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Oregon News
POLITICS
Would a Vacancy Tax Spur Owners of Empty Towers to Seek Out Commercial Tenants?
Willamette Week | By Garrett Andrews
To reduce blight and revitalize downtown, a trio of progressive councilors wants to explore penalizing owners of long-vacant commercial and retail properties.
Portland housing agency officials spent more than $25K in public money on Hawaii trips
The Oregonian | By Jonathan Bach
Home Forward has sent several officials to Hawaii over the past four years, spending more than $25,000 of public money on the trips, the Oregonian/OregonLive has learned.
‘An incredible force of nature’ or a cautionary tale?: How Oregonians are processing Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s resignation
The Oregonian | By Aimee Green
The storm clouds forming over Lori Chavez-DeRemer have only grown in recent months, culminating Monday with the longtime Oregonian resigning as U.S. labor secretary after 13 months in office amid a swirl of whistleblowers’ allegations of professional misconduct.
Multnomah County District Attorney Crusades Against Proposed Budget, Again
Willamette Week | By Andrew Schwartz
Nathan Vasquez says he stands to lose 10% of his deputy district attorneys.
Wilson Seeks to Eliminate 145 Jobs and Make Cuts to Parks, Police and Fire to Balance Budget
Willamette Week | By Sophie Peel
Facing a $160 million general fund deficit, the mayor proposes steep cuts across major bureaus.
Portland public safety improvements at risk under proposed cuts to 911, 311 services
KATU | By Shelby Slaughter
Portland's public safety could be facing some major cuts.
On Monday, Mayor Keith Wilson released his proposal in an effort to close a $171.6 million budget gap. In that proposal, Wilson suggested cuts to the city's 911 operating system, the Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC), including cutting two positions and reducing overtime and training.
Proposed cuts also include reducing the hours of the city's 311 hotline by more than 20%. Taking it from 7 a.m. through 8 p.m. daily to 7 a.m. through 6 p.m. Calls outside of those business hours would then be sent to BOEC.
North Portland residents push back against proposed police cuts amid safety fears
KATU | By Victor Park
People in North Portland fear cuts to public safety could be severe, especially after Mayor Keith Wilson proposed cuts to the police bureau.
Portland councilors to probe undisclosed housing funds during oversight hearing
The Oregonian | By Jonathan Bach
Portland lawmakers on Thursday plan to interrogate city staff over why they didn’t earlier disclose the existence of millions in unbudgeted housing funds that became a political football over the past five months.
Tractor, farming equipment stolen from Portland BIPOC nonprofit’s new headquarters
KOIN 6 | By Ariel Iacobazzi
A Portland non-profit is fighting for answers after they say an important piece of equipment was stolen right off their farm this past weekend.
2026 ELECTION
‘OPB Politics Now’: 4 top Oregon Republicans square off in first gubernatorial debate
OPB | By Dirk VanderHart, Lauren Dake, Andrew Theen
On the latest episode of “OPB Politics Now,” reporters Dirk VanderHart and Lauren Dake discuss how the candidates did, what they said to differentiate from one another and much more. Find the show anywhere you get your podcasts.
One of Oregon’s Most Powerful Unions Is Rebelling Against Democrats
Willamette Week | By Nigel Jaquiss
Reporting from the Oregon Journalism Project reveals a portrait of an organization that has grown more aggressive at the same time it faces unprecedented financial and membership headwinds.
Can Oregon’s progressive left unseat 2 of the Legislature’s most moderate Democrats?
The Oregonian | By Julia Silverman
Two of the Legislature’s most business-friendly Democrats are fighting to keep their jobs amid challenges from primary opponents supported by a surging coalition of labor unions and community organizations bent on unseating them.
Senate District 15 primary contest: Read what Myrna Muñoz, Janeen Sollman say in their own words
The Oregonian | By Julia Silverman
Democratic Sen. Janeen Sollman of Hillsboro is facing a primary challenge from Myrna Muñoz, who works for the Oregon Department of Education’s Educator Advancement Council and was previously the principal of Rigler Elementary School.
Whichever candidate wins in the May primary is likely to have a clear path to claim the Senate District 15 seat in November.
The Oregonian/OregonLive asked Muñoz, Sollman and a third Democratic candidate, Nelly Donis-Purcell, to answer key questions about their track record and top issues relevant to Oregonians in their district. Donis-Purcell, whose campaign is not raising money, did not respond.
Here are Muñoz’s and Sollman’s verbatim responses, lightly edited for length, clarity and AP style. Answers are listed by candidate in alphabetical order.
Meet the two Republicans vying to flip Oregon’s 5th Congressional District
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Mia Maldonado
Former legislative spokesperson Jonathan Lockwood and Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair are Republicans from opposite generations vying for the Republican vote. Both are seeking to flip a district that has more nonaffiliated voters than any other party, and more registered Democrats than Republicans.
6 Democrats compete to unseat Bentz in Oregon’s 2nd Congressional Distric
OPB / Jefferson Public Radio | By Justin Higginbottom
Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District has been in Republican hands since 1981. But a packed Democratic primary is filled with candidates who think they can change that.
EDUCATION
Beaverton parents alarmed by potential multi-grade classrooms amid budget cuts
KATU | By Deb Knapp
Families in a Beaverton neighborhood are still shocked after receiving an email from the principal of West Tualatin View Elementary School. Budget cuts in the Beaverton School District are forcing major classroom changes, the principal said.
US Education Secretary Linda McMahon visits Central Oregon schools
OPB | By Elizabeth Miller
As part of a tour around the 50 states, McMahon stopped in two Crook County schools and Central Oregon Community College.
In Oregon, school years can vary by a month. Why is largely random
The Oregonian | By Betsy Hammond
The number of hours that students across Oregon are scheduled to spend in school each year varies tremendously from district to district, particularly in high school, a first of its kind study shows.
WILDFIRE
Firefighting rappel crews sharpen their skills in Central Oregon forests
OPB | By Kathryn Styer Martinez
The training brought together 250 crew members from across the Mountain West for re-certification ahead of what could be a very active wildfire season.
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