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Trump administration says it will end Minnesota immigration crackdown
Associated Press
The Trump administration is ending the immigration crackdown in Minnesota that led to thousands of arrests, violent protests and the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens over the past two months, border czar Tom Homan said Thursday.
Oregon News
Oregon invites you to its Valentine’s Day birthday party at the state Capitol
Salem Reporter | By Joe Siess
Oregon, the 33rd state to join the union and the only one with a double-sided flag, turns 167 years old on Valentine’s Day and will have a birthday celebration at the Capitol on Saturday, Feb. 14.
POLITICS
‘Alters balance of power’: Oregon lawmakers consider bill changing gas tax election date
KOIN 6 | By Michaela Bourgeois, Joey Vacca
Democrats say they want to let Oregonians vote as soon as possible so that groups waiting on the funding (such as ODOT) know what they can expect this funding cycle, but the state’s top Republicans are blasting the move as just politics.
"Oregonians cannot afford this tax. We have the money in the budget to be able to balance this budget without new taxes. (Oregonians) came out in droves in opposition to new taxes. It was not passed in long session,” Drazan said.
The gubernatorial candidate argued that the bill was “forced down the throat” of the chamber and passed with thin margins, saying Oregonians have the right to be furious over efforts to move up the date of the vote.
Senator Bruce Starr said that “this is politics, pure and simple. The majority Democrats have voted for this unpopular tax. Do not want to share the same ballot as the tax. So they are rigging the system. They’re going to put it on a primary election where way fewer Oregonians participate…There are programs that have been funded with state highway fund dollars that fund sidewalks in our local communities. And right now, that’s not a bad program, but it’s not the priority when you’re talking about the potential of losing ODOT maintenance workers.”
As DMVs struggle to keep their doors open, rural Oregonians are harder hit
OPB | By Antonio Sierra
A DMV official says the problem could get worse if the transportation funding gap leads to budget cuts.
Oregon lawmakers hold hearing to ban ‘secret police,’ masked law enforcement
KOIN 6 | By Michaela Bourgeois, Lisa Balick
Senate Joint Resolution 203 proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to ban law enforcement at the local, state and federal levels from wearing masks.
Portland Police Association President Aaron Schmautz also testified, encouraging lawmakers to continue discussions around law enforcement masking.
“I do believe that this is a policy issue and that a constitutional amendment would significantly complicate what has been a very good and robust conversation that I think will lead to good outcomes,” Schmautz said.
“I fully understand Oregonians have concerns about what they are seeing and it’s important to remember that the state did change laws in 2021, which very, very robustly identified standards for identification for law enforcement and I just encourage this committee to support the work on the House bill that’s going on during this session and I hope to see that that will come to a positive outcome.”
Co-sponsors of the resolution held a press conference Wednesday ahead of the hearing, urging support for the “secret police” ban.
“If it were up to me, I’d ban ICE entirely,” said Sen. Manning. “But that’s outside of my role as a state Senator. That’s why I’m focused on what we—as Oregonians—can do to rein in masked marauders, fight for accountability, and clearly state: We don’t need secret police terrorizing our community! Such actions by our federal government undermine the trust and credibility of legitimate local law enforcement who are sworn to protect and to serve.”
“Some will argue that our efforts are pre-empted by the Supremacy Clause,” Rep. Tom Andersen said. However, legal scholars are split and the courts will ultimately decide this issue.”
Will Oregon buy iconic Abiqua Falls? Lawmakers are scrambling to make a deal
The Oregonian | By Jamie Hale
As soon as Oregon state Sen. Fred Girod, R-Silverton, heard about the sale of one of the state’s most iconic waterfalls, which happens to be in his district, he knew he had to act fast.
Since the sale has gone public, a small group of lawmakers has teamed up to find a way for the state to buy the land. Their current plan would use general obligation bond money to make an offer on not only the 40-acre parcel owned by the Abbey Foundation, but also a neighboring 160-acre parcel owned by timber giant Weyerhaeuser.
The bipartisan group also includes Sen. Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, as well as Reps. Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, and Rick Lewis, R-Silverton, Girod said. Because the Oregon Legislature is in its short session, they will need to act fast: Girod said they hope to hammer out an official offer by Feb. 18.
Oregon family detained by federal agents appear as special guests in state capitol
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Mia Maldonado
Days after their release from federal detention, the Crespo-González family were guests of honor at the Oregon House of Representatives.
Facing a ‘chilling effect,’ Oregon lawmakers seek to beef up abortion, trans health care laws
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Shaanth Nanguneri
In the wake of Oregon hospitals ending access to gender-affirming care for minors, dueling state policies over abortion and increasingly hostile federal actions toward transgender Americans, Oregon Democrats say the state’s protections for doctors and patients need an update.
Lawmakers revive plan to charge polluters for extreme weather damages
The Oregonian | By Gosia Wozniacka
Backers in Oregon say a “Climate Superfund” has the potential to raise billions of dollars to pay for solutions that help prepare Oregon communities for future climate impacts – without raising taxes on Oregon residents or businesses.
Some industry and business lobbyists spoke against the proposal.
Jana Jarvis, president & CEO of the Oregon Trucking Association, said the bill would hurt the trucking industry.
“As an industry that relies on fossil fuels to deliver groceries, medicine and all the essential goods that Oregonians rely on every day, this proposal would significantly raise the cost of fuel,” she said.
Officials with the Oregon Home Builders Association said the bill could lead to higher costs being passed down the supply chain, affecting housing production.
“Builders are already navigating elevated prices for fuel, transportation, concrete, asphalt, insulation, and other energy-intensive materials. Adding another layer of large, uncertain financial liability will further increase development costs, making it more difficult to build workforce and middle-income housing,” said Jodi Hack, the group’s CEO.
Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, the bill’s chief sponsor, said experts don’t expect the bill to raise prices because it seeks to recover penalties for past emissions, applies to relatively few companies and doesn’t change the marginal costs of production -- limiting firms’ ability to pass costs on to consumers.
“And even if it does affect the cost of energy,” Golden said, “that increase is going to be a pittance compared to what Oregonians are going to continue to pay in double digit increases in utility bills and insurance premiums year after year after year because of climate chaos. This bill offers an alternative to that.”
If the bill becomes law, it’s likely it, too, will be challenged in court.
Legislation could impact energy costs, utility operations in Oregon
Statesman Journal | By Bill Poehler
The slate of bills is nowhere near as transformative as the multiple laws passed in the 2025 legislative session, but this year’s proposed laws have the potential to make an enormous impact.
House passes bill to revisit 'rigid' rules for Oregon animal rescues
Statesman Journal | By Dianne Lugo
Introduced by Rep. Bobby Levy, R-Echo and Sen. Courtney Neron Misslin, D-Wilsonville, the bill is aimed at providing relief to local animal rescues across the state who testified about the need to ease data requirements that lead to burdensome fines.
Embattled sewer agency loses second top executive in 9 months
The Oregonian | By Jamie Goldberg
The top executive at Washington County’s embattled sewer agency is stepping down, becoming the second leader to leave the agency in the past nine months.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Historic Sheridan Fruit Company is closing its doors after more than 100 years in business
OPB | By Crystal Ligori
After 110 years in Portland, Sheridan Fruit Company is closing its doors. The independent grocer announced the closure Thursday confirming its final day will be on Friday, Feb. 13.
“It has been this gradual decrease of the inventory on shelves, more empty spaces and that became empty aisles,” said Melanie Katz, who works about two blocks away from Sheridan and regularly went there for lunch. “So we suspected there could be something going on.”
Sheridan was one of a handful of businesses original to an area of Portland known as Produce Row. For generations, this network of predominantly Italian American grocers sold local produce out of the city’s Central Eastside.
On its website, Sheridan thanked their staff and customers for their continued support and loyalty over the decades.
“Since 1916, it has been our greatest honor to be a part of your kitchens, your holiday traditions, and your daily lives,” Sheridan officials said in a statement. “We have been proud to champion local farmers and serve the city we love for over a century.”
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