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Oregon News
POLITICS
It Will Be a Cold Day in Hell Before Steve Novick Sends Climate Dollars to Moda Center
Willamette Week | By Robert Ohman, Aaron Mesh
In recent weeks, the campaign to pour $600 million of taxpayer money into Portland’s basketball arena has started to look more like a victory parade.
Earlier this month, the Portland Trail Blazers and their platoon of lobbyists and consultants succeeded in persuading state lawmakers to pass a bill dedicating public funds to a renovation of Moda Center. Days later, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver flew to Portland to smooth out public opinion, taking in a Blazers game while sitting beside his longtime friend, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Nike CEO Elliott Hill. Before the game, Silver gave an exclusive interview to the Blazers’ in-house media organ in which he described the arena rebuild as if it were a done deal: Prospective Blazers owner Tom Dundon gets his palace, and the league won’t let the Blazers skip town.
“I’ve had great conversations with the governor and the mayor, and it’s been a bipartisan effort…It’s just work that needs to get done, but it seems like the spirit is there. Everybody’s lining up,” Silver said.
Standing in the path of the procession is Steve Novick.
New Portland Trail Blazers owner played key role at company Oregon accused of predatory lending
OPB | By Conrad Wilson
Documents obtained by OPB and ProPublica reveal that Tom Dundon was behind what regulators called an “aggressive push” to waive proof-of-income requirements at Santander Consumer USA.
New urban growth boundary expansion criteria helps Woodburn, statewide affordable housing efforts
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Robin Linares
City officials and developers are eying a 120-acre former farming property just outside of Woodburn city limits for a housing complex to meet the needs of the small Marion County city’s growing population.
Prior to amending HB 4035, Sen. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, and Rep. Lesly Muñoz, D-Woodburn introduced Senate Bill 1564, which would have automatically allowed the site to be developed without an urban growth boundary review process.
Oregon, Washington leaders react to Supreme Court mail-in ballots case
KGW | By Alma McCarty
On Monday, the Supreme Court heard two hours of arguments about a Mississippi mail-in ballot law that allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted.
Money to continue battle with beetle tucked into bill balancing Oregon’s budget
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Alex Baumhardt
After an outcry from farm and nursery groups who warned tens of millions of dollars in crop value could be lost, lawmakers in the most recent legislative session slipped $1.8 million for two years of program funding into a bill meant to balance the state’s budget. Gov. Tina Kotek has yet to sign the bill.
PCC strike talks collapse after marathon mediation session
KGW | By Libby Dowsett
A potential deal to end the historic strike at Portland Community College and get the spring term back on track has fallen apart after a lengthy mediation session.
After 16 hours of negotiations, union members said both sides remain at odds on several issues.
Portland to spend up to $400K to study its tenant protection laws
The Oregonian | By Jonathan Bach
The city of Portland plans to spend up to $400,000 over two years to evaluate whether its landlord-tenant laws are helping or hurting renters and rental owners.
Supreme Court denies Chinook petition for federal recognition
OPB | By Mika Bartoo-Smith
The Chinook Indian Nation vowed to continue the fight for recognition that has lasted more than a century, looking toward Congress for next steps.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
No state averages below $2 as Oregon rises to fourth priciest for gas nationwide
KATU | By Sana Aljobory
Oregon rose to fourth most expensive after two weeks at fifth.
Malheur County in Oregon has the cheapest gas at $4.353, while Curry and Washington Counties maintain the highest at $5.038 and $5.033, respectively.
CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
Smoking drugs linked to over half of hospital burn cases, Oregon study finds
KOIN 6 | By Amanda Rhoades
More than half of all hospitalizations for burn injuries were patients who smoked drugs, according to new findings published last week.
PPB arrests 5 suspects, including ‘broker’, linked to copper theft operation
KPTV | By Mikhala Armstrong
Portland Police say they have arrested five suspects linked to a major copper wire theft operation, including a “broker” who helped recycle the stolen metal for profit.
EDUCATION
High school dropout rate for Oregon’s virtual schools higher than state average
OPB | By Elizabeth Miller
Enrollment in Oregon’s virtual schools now makes up 5% of public school enrollment in the state, yet dropout rates remain high and graduation rates remain low.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
A $1 gas pipeline deal fuels debate on Oregon’s energy future
The Oregonian | By Gosia Wozniacka
NW Natural’s push to buy and repair Coos County’s troubled natural gas pipeline has ignited a new fight over Oregon’s energy future, highlighting the challenges the state will likely face as it gradually phases out fossil fuels.
100-mile transmission line would bring power to Portland. But there’s a major catch
The Oregonian | By Gosia Wozniacka
A private developer wants to build a new transmission line stretching 100 miles from The Dalles to Portland — pitching the project as a critical fix for one of the region’s most pressing energy problems.
But there’s a catch. Most of the high‑voltage cable would be buried beneath the Columbia River. It would be the first project of its kind in the Pacific Northwest.
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