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Oregon News
2026 ELECTION
‘OPB Politics Now’: East of the Cascades, affordability and housing are on the ballot
OPB | By Bryce Dole, Kathryn Styer Martinez, Antonio Sierra
Homelessness in Pendleton and growth and development in Bend factor into next week’s election.
Oregon’s primary features packed governor’s race, a gas tax hike and more
Associated Press
Oregon’s Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek and the nearly two dozen challengers hoping to defeat her are among the candidates who will seek their parties’ nominations for state and federal offices in Tuesday’s primary. Voters will also decide a statewide ballot measure that would raise gas taxes to pay for improvements to the state’s roads and bridges.
Who is running for Oregon governor in May 2026 election?
Statesman Journal | By Anastasia Mason
Democrats and Republicans will see a long list of candidates running for Oregon governor on their ballots in the May 19 election.
Here's what to know about each candidate.
Ed Diehl and Chris Dudley make their case for Oregon governor before Republican primary
KGW | By Tim Gordon
State Rep. Ed Diehl and former Trail Blazer Chris Dudley both say Oregon is headed in the wrong direction — and that they're the ones to fix it.
Jo Rae Perkins discusses Oregon politics ahead of Tuesday’s Primary
KOIN 6 | By Ken Boddie
Jo Rae Perkins is the definition of a perennial candidate.
This time, she is running to take on U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, a democrat who she lost to in 2020.First, she’ll have to defeat state Republican Senator David Brock Smith in Tuesday’s Primary to even get the chance to challenge Senator Merkley in November.
POLITICS
Editorial: Moda Center discussions need city leaders’ professionalism, not their hot takes
The Oregonian Editorial Board
As the city prepares to negotiate a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers to fund arena renovations, Portlanders — and our city councilors — should remember there is a host of options between going nuclear and complete capitulation. The city does not need to call team owner Tom Dundon’s “bluff” nor lick his boots to reach a deal.
Another fact to keep in mind: Negotiating under a confidentiality agreement does not prevent city officials from fully informing the public about the choices, costs and benefits they face, as some councilors seem to have misunderstood. A nondisclosure agreement is about keeping a private business’ financial information or other critical data confidential — not about keeping the public in the dark about commitments on its behalf.
Portland politicians aren’t calling a bluff, they’re signing the Blazers’ death certificate | Bill Oram
The Oregonian | By Bill Oram
The Trail Blazers’ offseason will not be defined by whether they trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown or Kevin Durant.
History won’t remember whether they retain Tiago Splitter, spend on a top-flight head coach, or have an AI assistant draw up the plays.
The only thing that matters for the Trail Blazers this summer — really, truly, actually matters — is whether Portland’s politicians figure out that losing this team, be it to Nashville, Austin or Kalamazoo, is not some hollow threat by a greedy billionaire.
It’s as serious as wildfires in a summer drought. And our representatives are cackling while tossing firecrackers into the trees.
Blazers owner Tom Dundon discusses relocation, cost-cutting measures, Billups’ arrest, more
The Oregonian | By Joe Freeman
Portland Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon spoke publicly this week for the first time since his introductory news conference in April, taking part in an extensive interview on the “Game Over” podcast.
One Member of Kotek’s Prosperity Council Wanted Recommendations to Push Harder for Tax Cuts
Willamette Week | By Nigel Jaquiss
Jordan Schnitzer told his colleagues on the panel a draft document lacked “urgency and weight.”
OSU researcher: spotted owl protection and forest management don’t have to be in conflict
OPB / KLCC | By Brian Bull
Oregon researchers say forest thinning practices don’t have to clash with efforts to protect the northern spotted owl.
For decades, the northern spotted owl has been either heralded or scorned, depending on your view of timber clearing and forest management.
A unique Oregon law allows it to block healthcare deals. In five years, the state hasn’t done so once
OPB / ProPublica | By Rob Davis
Lawmakers said that giving the state oversight would stop multibillion-dollar deals from reducing care and increasing costs. Some who supported the law say it hasn’t been nearly as effective as they hoped.
‘We can do hard things’: Oregon’s human services leader recounts turmoil, triumph in first year
The Oregonian | By Shaanth Nanguneri
The human services director spoke with the Capital Chronicle about her work in the new position.
Providers of abortion pill for Oregon patients say access to this care remains unchanged
OPB | By Allison Frost
Amy Handler is the CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon. Sara Kennedy is the CEO of Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette and also an OBGYN. They join us to discuss the implications of this case—and the impact of the law signed this week by Gov. Tina Kotek to restore Planned Parenthood’s medicaid funding.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Oregon’s Housing Supply Increased Only About 5% Between 2020 and 2025
Willamette Week | By Khushboo Rathore
Oregon’s housing supply increased modestly between 2020 and 2025, with the biggest growth in Central Oregon, but progress lags far behind the state’s lofty goals.
Portlanders say they feel bad about everything but their own finances
The Oregonian | By Mike Rogoway
Ask people around Portland how the region is doing and most say we’re on the wrong track. Voters are concerned about homelessness, their government, taxes and housing among other issues, according to new polling.
Ask those same people how they’re doing personally, though, and most say it’s going pretty well — financially, at any rate.
Is downtown Portland on the verge of a comeback? Here’s what locals think
The Oregonian | By Jonathan Bach
Portlanders’ view of downtown continues to improve, but its reputation is still under repair, a new poll commissioned by The Oregonian/OregonLive found.
John Horvick, senior vice president at pollster DHM Research, said seeing fewer than half of residents respond with a positive view certainly isn’t great, but there’s a modicum of good news in the data.
‘Consistent feeling of juggling’: How sky-high gas prices are reordering these Oregonians’ lives
The Oregonian | By Veronica Nocera
Across the state, residents are reordering their lives around price hikes — running errands by foot or pedal, canceling out-of-state trips in lieu of staycations and carefully consolidating errands.
New report shines light on the state of Oregon’s economy
KOIN 6 | By Ken Boddie
A recent report by the Oregon Center for Public Policy showed that Oregon’s economy has outperformed the nation over the long haul, saying recent economic troubles stem from external factors rather than what we are doing as a state, and that economic gains are flowing to the top, leaving lower-income people struggling.
CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
What do Portland area voters think about homelessness? It’s complicated
The Oregonian | By Lillian Mongeau Hughes
Homelessness continues to be Portland’s “most important problem,” according to results from a new poll commissioned by The Oregonian/OregonLive.
Thirty-three percent of the 600 registered voters polled named homelessness as the area’s most significant conundrum.
But dig just a little bit beneath the surface of the issue’s top ranking and voters’ concerns quickly become nuanced.
River Pig Saloon owner speaks out after violent crimes outside business: 'Frustrates me, my staff, the neighborhood, everyone'
KGW | By Jake Holter
River Pig Saloon owner speaks out after the arrest of a man accused of shooting three women outside the Pearl District bar, raising concerns about crime.
Man with rare food-hoarding syndrome dies after eating spoiled food in state’s care, spurring $5M lawsuit
The Oregonian | By Aimee Green
Lee Massie-Hardy, 31, was born with a rare genetic condition that plagued him with an insatiable appetite and a drive to hoard food.
It led to extreme weight gain and was one of the reasons he was living in an adult foster home with strict rules that the refrigerator must be locked, he was not allowed into grocery stores and he was restricted to 2,000 calories per day.
That’s according to a lawsuit filed last week, which alleges that Oregon officials overseeing the care of adults with disabilities and the adult home where Massie-Hardy resided failed to properly keep watch over him, with fatal consequences.
Judge delayed sentencing for Portland drug dealer to see if she had really changed. Here’s what happened next
The Oregonian | By Maxine Bernstein
Baggio decided to postpone sentencing for six months to see if Ryan could maintain what appeared to be a “true change” in her life.
“You need to show me you’re making good choices, putting your own recovery at the top of your list of priorities,” Baggio said. “I do expect perfection from you.”
Ryan replied: “I will not let you down.”
But this week, when Ryan returned to a downtown Portland courtroom, she had an admission.
She hadn’t been perfect.
Historic Portland drag club plaque vandalized with homophobic hate speech
The Oregonian | By Isabel Funk
A plaque outside the iconic drag venue Darcelle XV Showcase that honored the club’s recognition in the National Register of Historic Places was vandalized last week.
EDUCATION
Portland Community College Separates From Its President
Willamette Week | By Joanna Hou
Adrien Bennings will receive a $261,000 severance package and a $25,000 retention bonus as part of the voluntary separation.
From ‘Almost Brainwashed’ to Pioneer
Willamette Week | By James Neff
How one teacher’s struggle to save her son led her to take on Oregon’s reading crisis.
UO President Scholz says university needs $65M in budget cuts
OPB / KLCC | By Nathan Wilk
University of Oregon President Karl Scholz says the school needs to cut around $65 million from its budget.
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