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Oregon News
2026 ELECTION
Republican candidates for Oregon governor spend millions to push competing messages in final stretch
The Oregonian | By Carlos Fuentes
As Republicans running for Oregon governor make their final push ahead of the primary election, they are spending millions of dollars to send sharply different messages to voters.
Five takeaways from the latest Oregon GOP governor debate
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Shaanth Nanguneri
The candidates dodged some questions on immigration enforcement and Trump while stressing their discontent with incumbent Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek.
Salem brewery cancels Cinco de Mayo event for Republican candidates
Statesman Journal | By Dianne Lugo
Xicha Brewing in north Salem did not allow an event originally scheduled for May 5 to occur at its restaurant featuring gubernatorial candidate Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Scio, and Republican House District 17 candidate Dan Farrington.
Embattled Oregon judge makes move against DA who called her ‘not qualified’
The Oregonian | By Beth Slovic
The filing of a public records request is typically a sleepy affair.
Not so in the case of Multnomah County Circuit Judge Adrian Brown, who on Monday hit District Attorney Nathan Vasquez with a request for “all communications” mentioning Brown from Vasquez, his top aides and reporters for The Oregonian/OregonLive back to June 2024.
POLITICS
Nonprofit sues Oregon State Police over data sharing with federal immigration agencies
The Oregonian | By Kristine de Leon
A nonprofit sued Oregon State Police on Tuesday, accusing the agency of illegally allowing federal immigration authorities to access residents’ personal data and helping fuel immigration arrests across the state.
County Commissioners Weigh Needle Distribution Ban Near Schools
Willamette Week | By Joanna Hou
Sen. Lisa Reynolds might seem a surprising backer, given that many in Northwest Portland blame her for killing Senate Bill 1573.
Tunnel lights remain out 5 days after ODOT said they would be fixed
KATU | By Jeff Kirsch
Several viewers have contacted KATU News about what they described as a dangerous situation on Interstate 84 eastbound tunnel to Interstate 205 northbound.
The lights in the tunnel have been out for several days.
When KATU reached out to the Oregon Department of Transportation last Friday, we were told the problem would likely have been fixed then.
In a Few Months, a Major Disruption Is Coming to Interstate 5 in Portland
Willamette Week | By Andrew Schwartz
Officials with the Oregon Department of Transportation say they expect congestion to back up to Vancouver during commuter times.
Portland-based transportation consultant on the current state of public transit in Oregon cities
OPB | By Malya Fass
As commuters are seeing continuous hikes in gas prices in Oregon and across the nation, some are forced to reevaluate their commuting habits.
Public transportation could be a vital alternative to commuters, but how well are public transportation systems in Oregon cities serving the public? How can they serve their communities more efficiently?
Jarrett Walker is a transportation consultant based in Portland — and he’s been answering these kinds of questions for public transit agencies across the nation for the last 35 years.
We’ll hear his thoughts on the current challenges and opportunities ahead for modes of transportation such as buses, light rail, and more.
Homelessness likely to increase in Portland area through 2027, Multnomah County officials say
The Oregonian | By Lillian Mongeau Hughes
At a budget meeting Tuesday, Multnomah County officials told commissioners homelessness would likely rise between now and June 2027, pretty much no matter what they did.
DOJ official threatens investigation into Multnomah County homeless services over screening tool
The Oregonian | By Austin De Dios
The U.S. Department of Justice is scrutinizing how Multnomah County decides which homeless people to prioritize for federally and locally funded supportive housing, raising the specter of a potential legal challenge.
This lesser-known program could keep Oregonians on SNAP, but there aren’t enough slots
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Mia Maldonado
People participating in the Workfare Program aren’t paid but gain experience while reducing and meeting SNAP work requirements.
Oregon thought California woman lived in Hillsboro park, siphoned $20K from her bank account
The Oregonian | By Aimee Green
Qiumin Zhu looked at her bank account five weeks ago and noticed a gaping hole: Nearly $20,000 missing.
The reason? The Oregon Department of Revenue had siphoned the money away for “unpaid” personal income taxes. Plus, stiff penalties and interest.
$1 billion in taxpayer money for Trump’s ballroom? Oregon senator, other Democrats recoil at GOP bill
The Oregonian | By Joel Odom
Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon joined other Democrats on Tuesday in decrying Senate Republicans’ move to earmark $1 billion in taxpayer money to cover security upgrades for President Donald Trump’s ballroom at the White House.
Oregon ethics commission to rule on Portland councilors’ private retreat
OPB | By Alex Zielinski
The state commission will decide Friday.
Former sewer CEO violated ethics law over meals, not Hawaii travel, Oregon ethics investigator finds
The Oregonian | By Jamie Goldberg
The former CEO of Washington County’s embattled sewer agency violated Oregon ethics law by approving her own meal reimbursements without declaring a conflict of interest, but did not commit ethics violations related to business travel to Hawaii, a state ethics investigator has found.
A small Oregon town faces financial peril. Can residents save Lakeview?
OPB | By Bryce Dole, Joni Auden Land
In a remote corner of rural Southern Oregon, the town of Lakeview is drowning in debt. Its story is an extreme example of the challenges stacked against isolated former timber towns.
CRIME, PUBLIC SAFETY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Multnomah Athletic Club Attack Inflames Civil Commitment Debate
Willamette Week | By Andrew Schwartz
The man who smashed a car full of explosives into the upscale Portland athletic club early Saturday morning had several earlier encounters with law enforcement.
‘We need more than just the power to seize weapons,’ DA says after Portland athletic club bombing
The Oregonian | By Beth Slovic
Oregon needs more options for mandatory long-term treatment of mental illness, Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said Monday after police identified the perpetrator in Saturday’s attack on the Multnomah Athletic Club.
MAC bomber was union organizer, sexually harassed at Portland club, documents show
The Oregonian | By Matthew Kish
Bruce Whitman, the man who died after driving a car filled with explosives into the Multnomah Athletic Club, filed civil rights complaints against the club with state labor regulators in 2015 and 2019.
Oregon shows notable progress for foster kids after class action lawsuit exposed horrors
The Oregonian | By Betsy Hammond
Oregon’s child welfare system, which previously yanked too many children from their homes, then gave some of them too little protection and care, has made measurable strides on key targets for child well-being set by an independent expert, the state asserted Friday.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Oregon data center to cut 66 jobs. Here’s why
KOIN 6 | By Amanda Rhoades
Another Oregon business is planning cuts to its workforce.
California-based Milestone Technologies, Inc. filed notice April 29 that it is laying off workers at its data center in Prineville, Ore.
The total number of jobs lost is 66, including 58 logistics associates, two team leaders, a training coordinator, a product engineer, a senior operations manager, two drivers and a manager.
More than 80% of this demographic group rates U.S. economy as bad or terrible
The Oregonian | By Joel Odom
As the U.S. faces economic challenges such as surging gas prices and persistent inflation, more than 80% of young Americans rate the economy as bad or terrible.
Tourism remains strong in Oregon, according to latest report
KOIN 6 | By Amanda Rhoades
Even after a tough few years for Oregon’s economy, tourism to the state is showing a few bright spots.
WILDFIRE
Oregon Gov. Kotek, state leaders warn of a dangerous fire year ahead amid low snowpack
KATU | By Vasili Varlamos
As Oregon approaches the summer months, Governor Tina Kotek and other state agency leaders are preparing for a "potentially dangerous" fire year.
On Tuesday morning, Gov. Kotek joined the Oregon State Fire Marshal, the heads of departments like forestry and emergency management, to discuss the 2026 wildfire season.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Pacific Power seeks rare ‘interim’ rate increase, citing financial problems
The Oregonian | By Gosia Wozniacka
PacifiCorp is asking state regulators to approve another increase in electricity rates in Oregon — and to let part of that increase take effect almost immediately while the case is under review.
Oregon Department of Energy announces $1.1 million in re-purposed funding for solar and storage rebates
pv magazine
The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) has announced it will temporarily reopen the state’s popular solar and storage rebate program on June 15, 2026.
The program, which initially ran out of funding in mid-2024, will be backed by $1.1 million the ODOE says comes from administrative savings and canceled or incomplete rebate projects from prior rounds.
Oregon gardeners are adapting to climate change. Now, they’re learning to grieve what’s been lost
The Oregonian | By Janet Eastman
Gardening is an act of optimism, a belief in the future based on predicting the seasons, but climate change is making it harder, said LeAnn Locher of Oregon State University Extension’s Master Gardener Program.
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