PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A fisherman whose commercial boat capsized near Waldport, Ore. was rescued Tuesday morning.
The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a mayday call from the fisherman’s vessel around 5:40 a.m. The call reported that the boat had been disabled in the surf near the entrance to the Alesa River.
When the fisherman stopped responding to radio calls, the coast guard immediately sent out a lifeboat and a helicopter crew to find him.
“The helicopter crew arrived on scene first and decided they were the best resource to assist,” USCG said. “They deployed a rescue swimmer and safely hoisted the man from the water.”
The man was evaluated for mild hyperthermia and taken to the Samaritan Hospital in Newport.
The full video can be watched in the video player below:
LOS ANGELES (AP) — An outside review of Los Angeles County’s response to January’s deadly wildfires found a lack of resources and outdated policies for sending emergency alerts led to delays in warning residents about the need to evacuate as flames began consuming neighborhoods in Altadena and Pacific Palisades.
The Independent After-Action Report produced by the consulting firm McChrystal Group was commissioned by county supervisors just weeks after the Eaton and Palisades fires killed more than 30 people and destroyed thousands of homes in highly dense areas of LA County.
The report released Thursday says a series of weaknesses, including “outdated policies, inconsistent practices and communications vulnerabilities,” hampered the effectiveness of the county’s response.
Interviews with survivors and an Associated Press analysis of available data in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire found some residents did not receive emergency alerts until well after homes went up in flames. The report sheds more light on these findings.
The area in which the Palisades Fire started was initially under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Police Department, according to the after-action report, which also says “input from the LAPD was not provided for this review.”
Similarly, evacuation orders for some neighborhoods of Altadena where the Eaton Fire swept through — including areas where the majority of deaths occurred — came long after houses had burned down.
Staffing shortages The report cites critical staffing shortages including a high number of sheriff’s deputy vacancies and an under-resourced Office of Emergency Management. In addition, first responders and incident commanders were unable to consistently share real-time information due to unreliable cellular connectivity, inconsistent field reporting methods, and the use of various unconnected communication platforms.
“While frontline responders acted decisively and, in many cases, heroically, in the face of extraordinary conditions, the events underscored the need for clearer policies, stronger training, integrated tools, and improved public communication,” the report says.
It is not intended to investigate or assess blame, county officials said in a news release.
“This isn’t about pointing fingers. It’s about learning lessons, improving safety, and restoring public trust,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose district includes Altadena. “Survivors of the Eaton Fire deserve answers — and today’s report is an important step toward delivering them.”
The Office of Emergency Management began putting together its staffing plan for predicted heavy winds Jan. 3, four days before the Palisades and Eaton fires ignited. But an experienced OEM staffer had been sent out of town for a training event. That meant several less-knowledgeable staffers were in key positions, according to the report.
They were also working with some new emergency notification software provided by an existing vendor: The county signed the expanded contract with emergency alert company Genasys in November, just before the holidays. Only four staff members were trained on Genasys when the fires hit, according to the report.
The review also found that the process to communicate an evacuation decision to the public was slow, convoluted and involved multiple leadership roles across county-level departments.
In the case of the Palisades Fire, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department identified areas that required evacuation. They then communicated those areas to a member of the County’s Office of Emergency Management at the Incident Command center. This person then made a phone call or sent a text message to another OEM staffer located in the Emergency Operations Center, who then updated the system put in place by the third-party vendor and triggered an alert to the public.
Alerting the public During the January inferno, according to the report, this process took between 20 and 30 minutes. The report’s authors note this represented an improvement, though, over the old system that took between 30 and 60 minutes for the public to receive notice of an evacuation.
Still, the report notes, many of the county’s methods to alert the public require opting-in.
“If residents are not aware of or do not sign up for these services, such as Alert Los Angeles County, Genasys PROTECT, and WatchDuty, they will not benefit from the alerts and notifications sent from these systems,” the report states.
Some of the evacuation alerts required residents to click a separate link to get complete information, hindering messaging, the report found. The communication system used for alerts did not provide complete information about the fire’s progression, like the names and locations of evacuation zones or the general areas of evacuations. Power outages and cell tower issues further hindered evacuation notices, and the timing of the evacuation notices simply could not keep up with the pace of the fire, the report found.
There was also a gap in the county’s policies about who is responsible for letting residents know how they should prepare for extreme weather risks, according to the report. The county did send out a handful of warnings about the incoming Santa Ana wind event and amplified National Weather Service messaging on social media and in news releases, but there was no official, stand-alone preparedness messaging provided by the county.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to review the 133-page report when it meets next Tuesday.
The causes of the two fires are still under investigation.
After-action reports and investigations revealed issues with alert systems in other California blazes: in the 2017 Tubbs Fire, which killed 22 people in Santa Rosa; the 2018 Camp Fire, which killed 85 people in Paradise; the Woolsey fire, which started the same day and killed three in Malibu; as well as in Colorado’s 2021 Marshall Fire, which destroyed more than 1,000 homes outside Denver; and in Hawaii’s 2023 Lahaina Fire, which decimated that historic town and killed 102.
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Police Bureau on Thursday welcomed 22 new officers to its ranks, marking the largest single swearing-in ceremony in more than 25 years.
The last time the bureau brought in a group this large was in 1999.
In recent months, PPB’s Recruitment Unit says it has implemented a wide-ranging strategy to revitalize hiring, including new advertising efforts, social media campaigns spotlighting current officers, and updates to its communication platforms that allow recruiters to engage directly with applicants.
The bureau says it has also updated its customer service approach to better support candidates during the hiring process.
The 22 new officers are part of an initiative to strengthen staffing while maintaining rigorous training standards.
The bureau’s next Hiring Workshop is scheduled for Oct. 11 and will include an overview of the application process as well as the required physical abilities test.
Who’s ready to have some fun? Well, the Mercury is here to help with FREE TICKETS to see some of Portland’s best concerts and events—our way of saying thanks to our great readers and spread the word about some fantastic upcoming performances! (Psst… if you want to say thanks to the Mercury, please consider making a small monthly contribution to keep us alive and kickin’!) And oh boy, do we have some fun events coming at ya this week! CHECK IT OUT!
If you’re a fan of power metal, this is a duo you’re not going to want to miss… POWERWOLF comes to Portland’s Roseland Theater on Oct. 1 with special guests Dragonforce kicking off the show! The balcony is already sold out, but there’s still GA floor tickets available (for now). Get your tickets now, or enter to win a free pair here!
Roseland Theater, 8 NW 6th Ave, Weds October 1, 7 pm, $62.50, all ages
Known for their high-energy live act and avid improvisation, NYC quintet Stolen Gin makes every show a party and never plays a song the same way twice. Enjoy catchy, danceable tunes when the indie outfit returns to Polaris! Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair!
Polaris Hall, 635 N. Killingsworth Ct, Fri October 3, 8pm, $26.05, all ages
California post-hardcore band Hail The Sun joins forces with Between the Buried and Me: progressive metal visionaries celebrating their most immersive and eclectic record yet, The Blue Nowhere. Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair!
Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark, Sun October 12, 7 pm, $44.78, all ages
They’ve appeared on America’s Got Talent, consistently sold out shows nationwide and generated over 50 million streams — listen LIVE when New York alternative quartet Nicotine Dolls returns to the Aladdin with gritty, emotional tunes on the “An Attempt at Romantic” Tour! Get your tickets now or enter to win a free pair!
Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie, Mon October 13, 8 pm, $34.75, all ages
With intense and unforgettable live performances, their fan base has grown over the years to a fever pitch and Floater fans are legendary for their dedication. Get your tickets now, or enter to win a free pair here!
Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside, Fri October 31, 8 pm, $38.41-$51.44, all ages
• Enter to WIN FREE TICKETS to see The Witching Hour at Tomorrow Theater!
Paul Reid and Stephen, both Portland residents, are among the hundreds of people from around the world who set sail in the Mediterranean Sea late last month. The two Portlanders joined the Global Sumud Flotilla, a fleet of civilian boats currently en route to Gaza in an attempt to deliver aid to Palestinians amid Israel’s ongoing siege on the enclave.
Approaching nearly a month at sea, the flotilla has faced rough seas, multiple drone attacks, and coordinating complications due to the vast size of the coalition. Many members have endured persistent sea sickness, especially on smaller sail boats.
Stephen is on a motorized boat with about 25 people, and has volunteered to work in the engine room. Reid is on a smaller sail boat where they take shifts at the helm.
Paul Reid aboard a boat en route to Gaza. photo courtesy of paul reid
Both Reid and Stephen have spent some time at sea—Reid in particular did a two-week voyage from Yemen to Oman years ago during peak pirate activity—but the current journey presents new challenges and life-threatening risks.
They told the Mercury they wanted to take direct action to help people in Gaza, as world leaders have failed to do so.
“I hope my people are able to see me not as crazy, but as profoundly dedicated to seeing a free Palestine after so many years of trauma and abuse at the hands of their occupiers,” Reid told the Mercury over text while the flotilla was docked in Tunisia.
Israel has restricted crucial aid, including food and medical supplies, from entering Gaza for months, tightening its blockade after a short cease-fire earlier this year. According to the United Nations, more than half of Palestinians in Gaza are experiencing famine as a result of the Israeli blockade.
Israel’s attacks on Palestinians have intensified in recent weeks, after nearly two years of war following a deadly attack by Hamas militants at a music festival in Israel on October 7, 2023. Israeli leaders, who’ve received military aid from the United States, say they must continue their air and ground offensive in Gaza to root out Hamas. More than 65,000 Palestinians—mostly civilians—have been killed since October 2023, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Those on the flotilla hope to break the blockade by sea, aiming to bypass the barriers Israel has set up to prevent aid from entering by land.
“These boats don’t just carry aid; they carry a message: the siege must end,” a statement on the Global Sumud Flotilla’s website reads.
A previous attempt to deliver aid to Gaza by boat was intercepted by Israeli forces, who detained the activists on board. This time, the much larger fleet has faced more challenges.
The Global Sumud Flotilla departed from Spanish ports on August 31. Members say two of the fleet’s vessels were targeted in drone attacks off the coast of Tunisia on September 8 and 9. Stephen, who asked the Mercury to withhold his last name to protect his family, was aboard the vessel “Alma” when it was struck. Stephen told the Mercury he was the first to spot a fire on the boat after the strike. The fire was quickly extinguished by the crew.
Though video footage appears to support the flotilla’s account, the Tunisian government denied the group’s claims in the first attack. Tunisia’s Ministry of the Interior however, called the second strike a deliberate attack and launched an investigation. Israeli authorities haven’t commented on the incident.
GSF members indicated they weren’t surprised by what happened, and they’re determined to make it to their destination.
Stephen said he’s “prepared for worst-case scenarios.”
“Anything is possible,” Stephen said in a text message on September 11. “The drone strikes were expected given they’ve occurred on prior flotillas.” He noted the crews practiced fire drills prior to leaving the port, and are now able to extinguish fires within seconds.
The flotilla faced multiple drone attacks again on September 23. Reid’s boat, “Hio,” was hit with three flashbangs according to the GSF website. In a social media post, Reid described the munitions as flashbangs on steroids, much bigger than anything he’d seen at a protest.
Following the attack, it appears the flotilla may soon get security reinforcements. On Wednesday, Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said he would join Italy in sending a warship from Cartagena to protect the boats from further attacks.
Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon has joined three other US lawmakers in pressuring Secretary of State Marco Rubio to urge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to interfere in the flotilla’s operations.
Both Stephen and Reid stressed the global failure to stop Israel’s siege on Gaza. Many experts, including the International Association of Genocide Scholars, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, multiple Israeli human rights groups, and most recently, a panel commissioned by the United Nations, have said Israel’s acts in Gaza constitute a genocide.
Reid says he hopes the trip will bring the death and suffering in Gaza into sharper focus for Americans. “This mission, for me, is poetry,” Reid said.“It is illogical to sail a boat into a storm. To witness someone do that intentionally would immediately arrest our attention.”
While some Portlanders were compelled to make the nearly 7,000-mile trek to Gaza, others have been advocating for the mission of the flotilla closer to home.
Tom Nelson, a Portland lawyer, also flew to Tunisia in late August, but did not end up on a boat due to some vessels not being ready and experiencing technical issues. He is now back in the US offering legal aid to the flotilla group while applying pressure on local congressional leaders here in Oregon. Nelson was part of a fleet of boats that set out to deliver aid to Gaza in 2008.
Oregon Representatives Val Hoyle and Suzanne Bonamici co-sponsored Block the Bombs on August 22 and September 2, respectively. Representative Maxine Dexter didn’t initially co-sponsor the bill, but joined on September 19 after weeks of pressure from her constituents. Dexter said she doesn’t support the United States “sending offensive weapons to Netanyahu’s government.”
“I joined the Block the Bombs Act and will keep pursuing every possible avenue to stop the massacre, surge humanitarian aid into Gaza, bring all hostages home and secure lasting peace, safety, and dignity for Palestinians and Israelis alike,” Dexter told the Mercury in an email on September 19.
Senator Merkley has pushed to block offensive military aid to Israel since February 2024. Following a recent trip to the Gaza border, Merkley released a report saying the Israeli government is carrying out an ethnic cleansing plan in Gaza, which the US is complicit in. Merkley told the Mercury he’s in full support of the flotilla.
“I applaud the people aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, who are placing themselves in danger to deliver desperately needed food to Gaza and who are helping to rally the world’s attention and pressure to secure a ceasefire, return all the hostages, and flood Gaza with humanitarian aid,” Merkley said in an email to the Mercury.
Senator Ron Wyden, meanwhile, has faced significant pushback from constituents for failing to support the Block the Bombs Act. Wyden asserts that Israel needs weapons to defend itself against any attacks from Iran.
Wyden’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the GSF and Block the Bombs Act.
Portland community members have hosted multiple rallies in support of the flotilla and to pressure Oregon’s US representatives. Supporters gathered at Sellwood Riverfront Park in Southeast Portland on August 31 for a rally that included homemade signs, and Palestinian flags waved from kayaks. Additionally, Portland parents have fasted for Gaza. Kawthar, a prominent local activist, began a seven-day hunger strike on September 17, which culminated in an event at Wyden and Dexter’s offices on September 23.
Supporters of the Gaza aid mission dubbed the Global Sumud Flotilla rally in Sellwood on August 31. Two Portlanders are aboard the flotilla. kevin foster
The GSF isn’t the only group using international waters to try to effectuate change.
On Sunday, the largest union in Italy called for a 24-hour general strike in solidarity with Palestinians. Tens of thousands across the country have joined protests, causing widespread disruption. The movement started when an Italian dockworkers union, Unione Sindacale di Base, threatened to “shut down all of Europe” and block all shipments to Israel if they lose communication with the flotilla or it is intercepted by Israel.
The GSF and its dozens of boats could reach Gaza at the end of the month, either successfully delivering aid or flaring into a tense encounter with Israeli opposition. As for those on the boats, they remain committed, ready to face anything that comes their way.
“Our government has failed us and Palestine, so it’s now up to the people to act to break the siege on Gaza,” Stephen said. “We need to be the change we want to see. Whatever we’re leaving behind or missing is nothing compared to what Gazans have been experiencing on a daily basis for almost two years.”
HELLOOOO, SMART STUFF! It’s time once again to put your brainy-brain to the test with this week’s edition of POP QUIZ PDX—our weekly, local, sassy-ass trivia quiz. And this week we’ll be testing your knowledge on celebrities who love Portland, dipshit presidents who HATE Portland, and… wait. Did the rapture happen, and I missed it? 🤔
But first! How did you do on our last quiz? Oooo-wheeee, you are so smart! But when asked which mall food court restaurant you would choose to eat at for the rest of eternity, most of you picked… Panda Express? What about Hot Dog on a Stick? Corndogs can be very nutritious! 😡
Anywaaaaaay… READY TO START? Take this week’s quiz below, take our previous pop quizzes here, and come back next week for a brand spankin’ new quiz! (Having a tough time answering this quiz? It’s probably because you aren’t getting Mercury newsletters! HINT! HINT!) Now crank up that cerebellum, because it’s time to get BRAINY!
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The autumn season is in full swing as Portland feels cooler temperatures on Thursday and increasingly earlier sunsets.
Nights are now officially longer than days as Portland experiences its final 7 p.m. hour sunset of the year. Portland will see the sun set at 7:01 p.m. on Thursday. The next 7 p.m. sunset isn’t until Daylight Saving Time, which begins again on March 8, 2026.
KOIN 6 Chief Meteorologist Josh Cozart shares Portland’s later sunrise and earlier sunset times for the end of September 2025
Monday’s autumn equinox marked the equal amount of daylight seen in the northern and southern hemispheres. As of Thursday, nights are officially longer than the length of the day. The sun will only be above the horizon for 11 hours, 59 minutes, and 33 seconds in the Rose City.
Sunrise times will continue to get later in the morning, sunsets earlier in the evening, all as the northern hemisphere’s nights continue to grow longer until winter.
If you’re reading this, you probably know the value of the Mercury’s newsreporting, arts and culture coverage, event calendar, and the bevy of events we host throughout the year. The work we do helps our city shine, but we can’t do it without your support. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!
GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND!👋
Here’s your reminder to empty your stomach NOW… because the Mercury‘s honkin’ delicious WING WEEK starts in just a few days on Monday, September 29! Think of it: a pile of delectable, creatively-sauced wings made by some of the best restaurants and bars in Portland, and they’re only $10 per plate. See hot pics of all those gorgeous wings here, and now get ready for some creatively sauced NEWS.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• After a months-long hiatus, Mayor Keith Wilson says that police will once again begin enforcing “camping ban” rules against Portland’s houseless community, and issuing citations to those who violate the rules. The mayor was quick to add that arresting these individuals is not the goal, and the citations are intended to serve as a way of enforcing the city’s “existing codes on open drug use, illegal dumping, blocked rights-of-way, fire, and other sanitation and quality of life issues.” Enforcement of the rules–which includes prohibiting people who have been offered shelter from camping on public property—had been put on pause while the mayor implemented his plan to build more shelters, and (as he loftily promised during his campaign) to end houseless camping by December 1. While the city has reportedly added 630 new shelter beds as well as a downtown outdoor day center in recent months, according to the most recent counts, there are still currently more than 6,000 houseless individuals living unsheltered on the street, many of whom have very good reasons for refusing the shelter being offered to them (such as personal safety, rules against pets, etc). Oh, and while these citations may seem toothless, it will give the police a reason to target certain individuals whose only crime may be being poverty-stricken in society where most of us are one big medical bill away from being on the streets ourselves.
Lawmakers have said OR statute essentially bars cities from penalizing camping unless there’s enough shelter capacity to accommodate the unsheltered pop (It’s v much open to interpretation)
At the moment, region has estimated 7k unsheltered pop & , including county shelters, a little over 3k beds.
• Meanwhile, Portland City Council is getting a lot of support for their plan to codify the city’s sanctuary status, and make it legally binding. Inspired by Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants, Councilors Sameer Kanal and Steve Novick introduced the proposal which will now go to back to committee before being allowed a vote by council, but if passed, will insist on the city doing more to protect our immigrant population, including training on immigration law for city staff, establishing protected areas, and keeping a much closer eye on ICE activities. However, the councilors also have two other proposals under consideration: banning law enforcement officers from wearing masks, as well as prohibiting the use of chemical weapons against Portlanders. While those proposals are still being worked on, they are expected to be brought to council within a few weeks—though the masking proposal is already getting pushback from the police union who claim it will be impossible for them to enforce. Councilor Kanal disagrees, saying there’s more than one path to enforcement, including court orders, and is reminding everyone of the bigger issue at stake here: “If you’re going to be deprived of your liberty, you deserve to know who’s doing it,” he said.
Eugene police has previously said it would not assist federal officers in enforcing immigration laws. The agency said “no immigration-related activities were occurring” at the federal building on Tuesday.
• In sporty-sports news, if you thought that the new Blazers ownership deal—led by Texas financier Tom Dundon and a group which includes the Cherng family, who owns Panda Express–was a slam dunk? Well, apparently it ain’t. According to reports, RAJ Sports (which owns the Portland Thorns and the city’s new WNBA team) has filed for a temporary restraining order to hit the brakes on the deal, targeting the Cherng family in particular. While the details remain unclear, it’s assumed that RAJ Sports—who also submitted a bid for the Blazers—felt like they were unfairly shut out of the deal. Stand by for the court documents to be released, which is when we’ll find out more.
• If you love looking at fun pics of Portlanders dancing their asses off at house parties, then check out this Mercury interview with Corbin C who has gathered nearly a decade’s worth of super fun pics in Choice Cuts: Disposable Camera Archives 2015-2023. Even better? They’re throwing a launch party for the book TONIGHT at Tomorrow Theater with Corbin C and special guest Karma Rivera. Do not miss!
Choice Cuts: Disposable Camera Archives 2015-2023 pulls eight years of point-and-shoot photography into a portrait of Portland’s house show scene.
• One detainee has been killed and two more injured after a gunman fired on an ICE facility in Dallas, Texas, yesterday. According to reports, the gunman died from a self-inflicted wound and no law enforcement agents were hurt during the shooting. The reasons behind the shooting remain unclear, though DHS officials identified the suspect as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, and were quick to say he was targeting law enforcement—pointing to ammunition that officials say were labeled with the phrase “ANTI-ICE.” Other than that, officials have released very few details—but that’s not stopping Trump and his cronies from making wild, unsubstantiated accusations about the incident.
An escalator malfunction that required President Trump to walk up one flight of steps at the United Nations had false claims swirling on social media that it was a deliberate act of sabotage by UN staff. nyti.ms/3IDjidS
• The Trump administration is threatening a mass layoff of federal workers if congress is unable to come to agreement on a spending bill, which could lead to a government shutdown next week. Naturally, the brunt of those firings will fall upon the agencies whose funding depends on a spending bill being passed, and whose missions are “not consistent with the President’s priorities” (AKA any agency the president wanted to get rid of anyway). Democrats—who are shockingly being blamed as the source of the potential shutdown by Trump—are pushing back against the proposal, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saying, “[The president’s action] is nothing new and has nothing to do with funding the government. These unnecessary firings will either be overturned in court or the administration will end up hiring the workers back.”
• Meanwhile, Trump and his cronies have given late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel the gift of a lifetime: Upon returning to his show Tuesday night after being suspended for allegedly disrespecting the slain right-wing propagandist Charlie Kirk, Kimmel received the highest ratings in ten years with over six million viewers, as opposed to the 1.6 million he receives on normal nights. And it would’ve been much more had the two major owners of ABC affiliates, Nexstar and Sinclair (the latter of whom owns Portland’s KATU) allowed the show to be broadcast on their stations, which stopped 23 percent of viewers from watching the show. 🤷♂️
Breaking News: A Justice Dept. official is pushing prosecutors to investigate a group funded by George Soros, the billionaire Democratic donor whom President Trump has demanded be thrown in jail.
• Trump is also putting pressure on wildly unqualified Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly giving false statements during congressional testimony in regards to the allegations of Russian election interference in 2016. An indictment could come down as early as today, though lawyers within the department are unsure whether their case would hold up in court. (Probably because it won’t—but when has that ever stopped Trump before?)
• And finally… after watching this video, I was like, “SAME, GIRL!”
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Summer heat has held on for the start of fall, but a cool down finally arrives across the Pacific Northwest as temperatures dip back into the 70s on Thursday.
A nearly 10-15 degree temperature drop from Wednesday to Thursday will work its way back into the region. A few more high clouds remain overhead, but sunshine will still be the dominant weather factor on Thursday around Portland.
Westerly winds will help to cool valley temperatures, but downsloping winds will develop over central and eastern Oregon and Washington on Thursday. Those westerly winds will increase the wildfire threat for north central Oregon and eastern Washington. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. due to windy, dry weather, and rapid fire spread.
Westerly winds will decreases the humidity and increase Oregon and Washington’s wildfire threat Thursday, September 25, 2025
Portland’s temperature trend will rise and fall over the next week. Temps briefly climb back into the low 80s on Saturday before a cool down into the 60s early next week.
Rain chances start to increase on Monday as a cold front arrives and highs fall into the mid to upper 60s. Rain amounts in Portland remain uncertain at this time, but will be something to watch closely over the coming days. The chance for thunderstorms also returns next week as the cold and unstable pattern sets up.
KOIN 6 Senior Meteorologist Kelley Bayern shares Portland’s cooler end to September 2025
Keep your eyes on the forecast as the KOIN 6 Weather Team tracks the next round of rain returning to Portland next week.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Tensions continue in the Reynolds School District, where board members faced a sea of red union shirts during their meeting on Wednesday night.
Dozens of teachers, bus drivers and custodial staff union members and their supporters shared the message: no furlough days and no layoffs.
Amid the ongoing negotiations between the union and the district, the supporters of the union packed the boardroom in Fairview.
Many people shared frustrations as the district faces close to 80 layoffs if the union doesn’t accept 10 furlough days — that’s 10 days of no work with no pay.
The union is opposed to that proposition. In addition, the Reynolds Education Association and the Oregon School Employees Association has pushed the district for more transparency. The union members are also asking for more money.
More than an hour of public comment poured in at Wednesday night’s district board meeting.
A couple of the board members, Francisco Ibarra and Michael Reyes, voiced support for the union members sitting before them, citing a lack of federal and state funding putting the district in this position.
“We are all of us here. There is no us and them. There’s us here, Reynolds. And we have to stay united and remember who gave us no choice,” Reyes said.
Others pointed the finger at the union.
”The ongoing reiterate claims of hidden funds, false math accusation that district leaders are not bargaining in good faith, and that board members are not questioning the budget. It is not only misleading, but also affecting the teacher’s ability to focus and perform their work effectively,” said Reynolds School Board Member Ana Gonzalez Muñoz.
OSEA Chapter Vice President Kristy Cousineau retorted, “We cannot continue surviving on the wages that are being presented with these furlough days. It’s just, it’s not feasible. And that’s not being stubborn or ridiculous. That’s facing reality.”
REA President Jeffrey Fuller added there’s more work to be done.
“It’s only four weeks into the school year, and people are already exhausted. And overworked. And I think that’s going to be a big part of the message that it is not okay,” Fuller said.
Reynolds School District Superintendent Dr. Frank Caropelo did not address the room when it came to union worries and left before KOIN 6 News had the chance to request an interview.
The district and the REA are set to meet on Thursday and continue talking through the issues. While union members said it’s a step in the right direction, they remain wary of the district.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A child who was riding an e-scooter in Southeast Portland was critically injured in a crash involving a car, authorities said.
The Portland Police Bureau said officers have closed off a portion of Southeast 122nd Avenue between Southeast Sherman Street and Southeast Mill Street on Wednesday evening while the investigation continues.
Police are investigating after a child riding an e-scooter was seriously injured in a crash with a car in Southeast Portland. September 24, 2025 (KOIN).
Police are investigating after a child riding an e-scooter was seriously injured in a crash with a car in Southeast Portland. September 24, 2025 (KOIN).
Police initially responded to reports of a crash just after 7:30 p.m. near Southeast 122nd Avenue and Southeast Lincoln Street. Upon arrival at the scene, officers found a 9-year-old boy who was then taken to the hospital by ambulance with critical, life-threatening injuries. The involved driver remained on the scene.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Portland police.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Officials are warning the public of a synthetic opioid that is 100 times stronger than fentanyl.
Drug Enforcement Administration agents from the Seattle Field Division recently seized counterfeit M30 pills containing carfentanil in Western Washington.
“Carfentanil is like fentanyl on steroids,” said Seattle DEA Special Agent in Charge David Reames in a press release. “The cartels traffic this incredibly dangerous substance in order to profit from our misery.”
Counterfeit M30 pills containing carfentanil seized on Sept. 16, 2025. Photo provided by Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Office.
After a months-long investigation involving the DEA, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Federal Way Police and Centralia Police, agents seized 50,208 pills from a suspect at a gas station in Centralia, Washington.
Counterfeit M30 pills containing carfentanil seized on Sept. 16, 2025. Photo provided by Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Office.
The driver, who is from Pacific, Washington, was caught after a K9 detected narcotics inside the vehicle. The pills were sent to a DEA lab in California for testing. Lab results showed the pills contained carfentanil along with acetaminophen, which is used as filler.
Carfentanil is 1,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl, according to the DEA. Deaths involving the drug have increased sharply in recent years.
Between January and June 2023, there were 29 deaths from carfentanil. During the same period in 2024, there were 238 deaths from the drug, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mayor Lueb was the 2nd Leftist to resign from office in Tigard since 2022. I still miss Singh on the city council. What started out looking diverse in 2022 when Portland felt the need to go conservative and got screwed, now is more conservative looking. I feel so unrepresented and wish I were. Our current city council are primarily the fiscally conservatives who could achieve gentrification and more inequity. Mayor Lueb was really concerned with pedestrian and bicyclist safety and Singh was trying to achieve environmental social justice. Now, it’s save not people or the planet, but save the police and probably shenanigans such as gentrification and not regulating businesses or questioning how our city can meet climate change. Is this the new tactic? Push them out before their terms are up. Why does this almost never happen to Liberals or conservatives? And please consider if you are Leftist running for Tigard city council or becoming a staff member. Occupying Tigard City hall is very, very important. Tigard looks like it would agree to anything that the current administration in the oval asks of it. That’s not good. Why do they always ruin anything diverse? Ugh.
The experimental composer Liz Harris—best known as Grouper—is Western Oregon’s resident ghost, conjuring delicate whispers and heavy drones that have haunted the bioregion for two decades. Her work drifts between the otherworldly and the intimate, from acclaimed atmospheres on Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill (2008) and Shade (2021) to her electronic collage piece featured in Portland Institute of Contemporary Art’s 2023 showRemembering to Remember.
Harris’ uncanny hymns are serene to the point of unsettling the listener. But her hazy band Helen, whose lone album The Original Faces was released in 2015, is her most accessible project. Even so, it retains a broody sensibility—Helen is less haunted, but still, you know… pretty haunted.
Helen’s two other members are fixtures of Portland’s experimental music scenes in their own rights: Drummer Jed Bindeman co-owns Little Axe Records, helps run the RVNG Intl. sub-label Freedom to Spend, and curates Concentric Circles, a label reissuing lost tapes and obscure independent works. (He also drummed in the space-rock band Eternal Tapestry.) Bassist-guitarist Scott Simmons plays with psych rockers Lavender Flu, and formerly with lo-fi legends Eat Skull. As Helen, the trio released The Original Faces under the iconic Portland-by-way-of-Chicago label Kranky, whose experimental catalog includes heavy hitters Stars of the Lid, Windy & Carl, and Portland pianist Saloli.
The curious “Helen,” credited with backing vocals on The Original Faces, sounds a lot like Harris. Was she credited as a joke, as a real person, or perhaps as a reference to Mount St. Helens? The album doesn’t answer this question, instead leaning into slipperiness, its tracks running short as though running away. That subtle frustration is central to its ethos: At once dour shoegaze, dreamy jangle pop, and reverb-soaked surf rock, it resists categorization, sneaking in some ambient experimentation, too.
Spanning just over thirty minutes, The Original Faces’ tracks are brief and elusive—the longest, “Violet,” barely grazes the four-minute mark. Vocals are distorted and submerged in haze. Helen evokes a sunburned atmosphere, a summer road trip recalled in fragments. A decade after its release, the album still hasn’t found its destination, because it was never meant to.
The Original Faces opens with “Ryder,” whose raspy tape sample builds a warm melancholy, frayed and bright. Harris’ vocals drift in mid-track, languid and mournful, like a singer in a ‘60s girl group buried beneath a tide of fuzzy reverb and melodic bass. Thus begins Helen’s road trip, a drive along an anonymous coastline drenched in fog.
“Motorcycle” continues the ride, settling into a misty reverie as Harris’ vocals wash across the track like water shimmering on hot asphalt. Bindeman’s drums keep things tethered to earth, but just barely—eeriness lingers, and it’s easy to imagine Harris as a teenage ghost reflecting back on her life. “Covered in Shade” is an uptempo, outdoorsy snapshot; Harris’ vocals ache with adolescence, then fade in a hiss and hush.
Helen’s sound is dense and muffled, something you’d overhear through the walls of your cool neighbor’s apartment. But on these early tracks, you catch yourself drifting back to the raw, childlike feel of 2010s indie garage—Cherry Glazerr’s “Haxel Princess,” La Luz’s “Black Hole, Weirdo Shrine”—which is to admit being caught in memories of being younger, more open to the new.
“Felt This Way” forces a growing up again. It’s crunchier, darker, caught in a thunderstorm of reverb. A wet, heavy bassline seeps into surf rock territory, though Harris’ voice remains angelic, even as it’s pulled underwater. The second half of the album shifts between dream-surf—“Right Outside” lets in a little sunlight with clearer vocals and a dusty tambourine jangle—and heavier meditations. Harris’ ache is buried beneath texture on “Dying All the Time,” a weighty, drum-heavy roar.
As the album winds down, the clouds briefly thin. A keyboard plunks unexpectedly across “City Breathing,” a brief interlude that feels like pulling off the highway to stretch your legs. But The Original Faces’ emotional peak, “Violet,” plunges back into fog with fuzzed-out guitars; Harris’ vocals are at their most heavenly, floating somewhere above Bindeman and Simmons’ instrumentation. A bass solo interrupts midway, then elbows space for more of Harris’ spectral mezzo-soprano to shine.
A 94-second instrumental track closes The Original Faces, spare and sorrowful; it feels like a rewind to the album’s beginning. It’s a fitting choice for a project that never truly resolves, only steers through haze.
Helen’s sound reaches for many genres and moods, but it might be best described as shoegaze gazing at itself, an echo of an echo. The Original Faces lives between words, like a childhood memory or a slipping dream recounted to a friend. You’ll dig the layers if you’re into Galaxie 500, Slowdive, or shoegaze progenitors Black Tambourine.
Ten years on, The Original Faces still holds water, or maybe a whole ocean. It’s the perfect album with which to say goodbye: To summer, to the songs you’ve forgotten, and to your former selves.
Helen’s The Original Faces was released September 4, 2015 and can be found on Grouper’s Bandcamp as a digital download, CD, or vinyl LP.
You have a radio head tattoo on the back of your neck. We both lived on s.e. 28th ave. We spent only one night together but I saw you months later in the frozen food section at Fred Meyer and you were pregnant. Was it mine? This was over 10 years ago. I’m in my late 40s now and never had any children. Just curious. I don’t even remember your name anymore as it’s been so long.
Springfield, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Child Welfare Division is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 14-year-old girl from Springfield. Stella “Clay” Dolton, a child in foster care, was last seen on Sunday, Sept. 22, and is believed to be in danger.
Authorities believe Stella may be attempting to travel from Eugene to the Portland area.
ODHS urges anyone who sees her or has information about her whereabouts to call 911 or contact local law enforcement immediately.
Description:
Name: Stella “Clay” Dolton
Pronouns: She/Her
Date of Birth: Dec. 24, 2010
Height: 5 feet 3 inches
Weight: 140 pounds
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
The case is being handled by the Springfield Police Department under case number 25-6345. She is also listed with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children under case #2062243.
ODHS noted that missing children in foster care may be at significant risk, and media alerts are issued when necessary to help ensure their safety. In some cases, a child may go missing multiple times, prompting more than one public alert.
Anyone with concerns about the safety of a child or adult in Oregon is encouraged to report abuse or neglect by calling the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline at 1-855-503-SAFE (7233). The hotline operates 24/7, including weekends and holidays.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The City of Portland says its annual Leaf Day will look a little different this year.
From November to mid-January, the Portland Bureau of Transportation sweeps leaves from city zones to prevent clogged storm drains and slippery streets.
The city says to expect 29 more zones this year as PBOT works toward citywide street sweeps.
“Historically, we have had to cut street sweeping citywide. But the Mayor and City Council’s investment in the City’s 2025-26 budget gives PBOT the opportunity to rebuild the program, working toward citywide sweeping in the next three years,” PBOT said on its website.
To participate in Leaf Day, the city requests residents to rake their leaves into the street one day before their scheduled pickup. The full schedule can be found here, and you can even sign up for reminders.
However, PBOT warns that you should only gather loose leaves, not other yard debris like twigs, branches, pinecones, etc. They also say to keep one foot of space between your pile and the curb for storm runoff.
On Leaf Day, vehicles are required to move from the street as it is being swept. Those who do not move their car could face an $85 citation for violating a temporary no-parking zone, plus tow fees.
HB 3940 — Wildfire funding package features new nicotine pouch tax
This bill addresses how to pay for the rising cost of fighting wildland fires by levying a tax on nicotine pouches.
The tax is 3.25 cents per individual unit with a flat charge of 60 cents on packages of fewer than 20 units.
2024 was the most expensive fire season in state history — costing over $350 million — and left lawmakers split on how to fully fund the Oregon Department of Forestry.
Democratic lawmakers heralded House Bill 3940 as a “significant update to Oregon’s wildfire finance and response system.” The bill passed in a bipartisan vote of 37-8, though 13 representatives had excused absences for the vote, primarily among Republicans.
The bill entered the State Senate as something of an all-purpose method of testing wildfire funding methods, with updates to how rural working lands are assessed, taxed and protected and a 5-cent surcharge on beverage containers. Ultimately, those methods were dropped in favor of the oral nicotine tax. It passed the Senate in a bipartisan vote of 20-8 with two absences for the vote.
SB 163 — Children of sperm and egg donors have a right to know their donor
This bill allows children conceived from donor sperm, eggs or embryos to gain access to the names of their respective donor or donors, as first reported by The Oregonian.
At a lengthy 105 pages, the law thoroughly lays out the legal standards for establishing parentage — similar to other laws giving adopted children the same rights and protections.
As part of the law, clinics are required to ask for the names, addresses, birth dates and contact information of gamete and embryo donors. That information will then be logged on a state registry that will be maintained even if the clinic goes out of business. Previously, these donors were allowed to stay anonymous and records were often lost with the closing of involved clinics.
Even though the law is taking effect this fall, it’s going to be some time before it sees serious use. Donor-conceived children won’t have access to the registry until they turn 18. Functionally, this means that the registry won’t be used until 2043 or 2044.
The bill passed 21-8 in the State Senate with one Democrat and seven Republicans voting against it. It saw a similar split in the House, passing 41-9 with only Republicans opposing the bill.
Similar bills have been popping up around the country. Clinics now face increased scrutiny after it was revealed a few years ago that a Dutch man fathered at least 550 children in multiple countries.
HB 2563 — Insurers are now required to explain premium hikes
This bill requires that insurers explain to policy holders why their premium will go up when their policy is renewed, and even specifies how they’re supposed to deliver the news.
The law applies to either homeowner or personal insurance policies. At the policy holder’s request, their insurance provider must “give a clear and reasonable written explanation for any increase” in the premium. Insurance providers aren’t allowed to use technical language that wouldn’t be easily understood by the average policy holder.
Insurers will be required to list up to four of the most significant reasons for the price increase. Also, it will now be up to the Department of Consumer and Business Services to define when a factor significantly contributes to a rate hike. This law will only apply to existing policies that are being renewed, and not to new applications.
Insurance providers will be required to respond within 20 days of the customer’s request.
The bill made it through the House almost entirely on party lines, passing 33-22 with no Republican support and one Democrat voting against it. It only fared slightly better in the Senate, passing 21-8 with three Republicans voting in favor.
The bill also allows local governments to decide for themselves if they want to bar people from bringing guns into public buildings, even if that person has a concealed carry permit.
While the bill was still on the floor, Republicans said they could have backed the ban on bump stocks, but this second part of the bill goes too far. Ultimately, the bill passed both the House and the Senate on a party-line vote.
HB 2573
This bill revises two laws from 2021 and 2024 by clarifying the legal meanings of long-term care facility, residential care facility and senior emergency medical services.
It also adds tighter requirements for the Senior Emergency Medical Services Innovation program and pushes back the end date for that program.
HB 2685
This bill makes it mandatory for Oregon hospitals and birthing centers to give each newborn a hearing screening test. Smaller facilities are required to at least give parents more information about the screening and where they can get it done.
In addition, hospitals and birthing centers will be responsible for screening for cytomegalovirus (CMV) — a disease related to mono that can cause birth defects.
HB 3294
This bill regulates staffing plans for health care providers. One of the most notable changes is that a direct care registered nurse can only be assigned to one trauma patient at a time, and no more than five general patients at a time.
HB 3409
This bill clarifies the previous laws and spells out when and how insurance providers can require a reimbursement claim for certain federally discounted prescription drugs.
HB 3824
Under this bill, physical therapists in Oregon will be allowed to perform dry needling for their patients, and won’t need to get a separate license to use sonographic equipment if it’s for physical therapy.
Physical therapists will also be able to certify a disabled person’s parking permit application.
SB 230
Oral healthcare providers will be required to complete an intake screening within 60 days when someone enrolled in the Veterans Dental Program contacts them.
This bill passed unanimously in both chambers of the state legislature.
Energy and Utilities
HB 2065
This bill, along with HB 2066, establish a regulatory framework for small-scale power grids that can operate independently from the main grid known as “microgrids.”
HB 2065 in particular lays the groundwork for hiring consultants, getting engineering evaluations and submitting designs to connect a microgrid to a main power grid.
HB 2066
This bill directs the Public Utility Commission to create rules and frameworks for people to own and operate microgrids and community microgrids within the service area of electric companies. It also requires the Department of Consumer and Business Services to establish rules to support buildings with community microgrids.
Local governments will be able to set their own land use regulations for what areas are considered microgrid zones.
HB 2095
This bill makes technical corrections to the tax credit granted for research conducted by a semiconductor company. It’s more legal housekeeping than anything that will impact the average state resident.
HB 3336
Under this bill, power companies will be required to file strategic plans for improving the power grid where they can afford to do so. Companies are then given until Jan. 1, 2030 to carry out the plan.
Forestry, Wildlife and Climate
HB 2072
This bill extends the Forest Products Harvest Tax — a tax on timber harvested from any land in Oregon — through 2027. You’re still required to file harvest returns even if the total volume is less than the minimum threshold for being taxed.
HB 2081
This bill directs the Oregon Investment Council and the State Treasurer to take action to mitigate the risks of climate change to the Public Employees Retirement Fund.
HB 2342
This bill increases certain wildlife license, tag and permit fees. The cost of an annual hunting license for a resident will increase from $34.50 to $39 under the new law. It will then increase again to $45 in 2030. The last time the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife raised license fees was 2020.
HB 3630
This bill eliminates the estate tax for farm, forestry and fishing interests owned by trusts and businesses that are entirely owned by family members of the deceased. It will apply to the estates of people that died on or after July 1, 2025.
HB 3794
This bill will create the Task Force on Municipal Solid Waste in the Willamette Valley. The committee will be expected to study and identify solutions for waste disposal in Willamette Valley, and will be dissolved at the end of 2026.
SB 485
This bill makes it easier for small forestlands to qualify for an exemption from the estate tax after the owner’s death.
Housing and Land Use
HB 2316
This law will allow for the creation of home start lands on certain state and local properties within Oregon’s urban growth boundaries. It’s one approach for the Department of Administrative Services to address the state’s ongoing housing crisis and encourage new developments.
These home start lands will be exempt from some land use laws, as well as property taxes for up to five years after purchase and are meant to provide grounds for affordable housing — especially for first-time homebuyers.
HB 3054
This bill places a cap on the amount by which landlords can increase rent for tenants in mobile homes or floating homes. There are exceptions in place for if tenants collectively approve major upgrades.
HB 3145
This bill allows the the Housing and Community Services Department to use Local Innovation and Fast Track Housing Program Fund money for pre-built homes. The department will also be required to report on the outcomes of this spending.
HB 3963
The Department of Land Conservation and Development was required to provide a report on their assessment of offshore wind farm developments by the end of the year. This bill extends the deadline until Jan. 1, 2027.
SB 48
This bill changes the conditions under which cities can amend their urban growth boundaries. It also opens the door for cities to pay back loans from the state used for more affordable and middle housing with revenue sources other than developer fees.
SB 347
Under this bill, land owners won’t face a special tax assessment if it is found that marijuana was grown on their land without their knowledge by the person using said land.
SB 684
This bill will expand the definition of “residential housing” to include some types of mixed-income housing. The Housing and Community Services Department will also be required to adopt rules for long-term financing of residential housing by the end of 2026.
Labor, Business and Taxes
HB 2087
This bill expands multiple state tax credits and extends them through 2032.
HB 2321
This bill mandates that the Legislative Fiscal Office analyze and report on the current state property tax system and options to modernize it by the end of 2026.
HB 2337
This bill allows small businesses to apply for an Oregon Small Business Enterprise certification, which will let them compete for contracts with the state. It will also direct the Department of Administrative Services to make a list of targets and goals for small business contracts across the state.
HB 2339
This bill enacts broad revisions to Oregon’s tax statutes and timber revenue distribution, including modifying how timber severance tax funds are allocated.
HB 2351
This bill changes how businesses are required to report data from state benefit programs such as tax exemptions. Proponents of the bill hope it will improve transparency with regards to Oregon’s economy.
HB 2688
This bill increases wages for work done on off-site work for use in public works such as roads, highways, buildings, etc.
HB 3024
This bill removes the eight-week penalty that disqualified workers from applying for unemployment benefits if they quit or were fired, later requalify for those benefits. In short, eligible people can now receive the full 26 weeks of benefits.
SB 99
This bill extends the duration of property tax breaks for helping to clean and redevelop environmentally contaminated “brownfields” or structures on said brownfields through 2023.
SB 143
This bill changes Oregon’s unemployment insurance tax system by increasing the portion of employer tax rates that goes to the state’s fund. It won’t impact the annual unemployment tax rate, it will just change where that money goes.
Courts and Elections
HB 2089
This bill creates a program for the former owners of foreclosed property to get any surplus money after the property is sold by the county to pay off delinquent property taxes.
HB 2677
This bill makes it easier to expunge juvenile criminal records by requiring county juvenile departments to automatically start the process when the youth turns 18 or completes probation.
HB 3687
Under this bill, any election to adopt, amend, revise or repeal a county charter will be determined by a simple majority vote, and supermajority requirements are prohibited.
HB 3825
This bill clears prior court fines for possessing small amounts of marijuana.
SB 578
This bill sets the dates by which time a candidate for office needs to submit their photo and statement for inclusion in county voter guides. The measure passed unanimously in both chambers, not counting absences.
SB 580
This bill sets the timeframe that county elections officials have to make a candidate’s name and the office they’re running for public.
SB 1173
Under this bill, healthcare providers won’t face product liability claims for products that they provide so long as they weren’t involved in designing, manufacturing or selling/leasing that product.
Miscellaneous
HB 2558
This bill also roughly doubles the Oregon State Marine Board registration fee for all charter guides and outfitters. The fee increase won’t hit until November, but the bill will adjust the definition of charter guide for clarity when it takes effect Friday.
Annual registration fee for a charter guide will be $500, and the fee for outfitters and other guides will be $350.
HB 2725
This bill expands the state’s Strategic Investment Program so that certain ports will be included in the decision-making process for larger development projects, and potentially qualifies them for property tax exemptions.
HB 2728
This bill requires the Public Employee Retirement System to provide retiring members with overtime data and more information about how overtime hours were used to calculate their final average salary.
HB 2809
This bill raises the fee to register a newly formulated pesticide to a max of $550 depending on the chemical’s toxicity and potential environmental impact.
HB 3043
This bill defines “monitoring agreement” and “workplace monitor” for purposes of the impaired health professional program, and allows licensed mental health professionals to refer themselves to the program.
HB 3045
This bill allows the State Board of Pharmacy to drug test a licensee they’re investigating, or require that person to take a mental, physical or competency evaluation.
SB 789
This bill allows the Oregon Board of Psychology to fine a licensee for the cost of disciplinary action taken against them.
SB 838
This bill exempts the State Parks and Recreation Department from certain parts of the Public Contracting Code.
Oregon’s allegedly “green” energy agenda costs taxpayers a bundle and actually produces more pollution.
Many of you are hearing this while stuck in your cars on the region’s perennially congested freeways.
Tens of billions have been spent over the decades to build dozens of miles of light rail, yet transit ridership isn’t rising—it’s falling.
Before the pandemic and the government’s overreaction disrupted the economy, transit use had already dropped from almost ten percent to about seven and a half. Driving rose from 65% to more than 68% at the same time.
Working from home increased more than 170% in the last five years. Cascade Policy Institute’s numbers show remote work cut commuting by car 6%, but cut transit ridership by almost half.
Diverting billions to rail and then deciding NOT to build roads congested freeways. The wasted fuel from that now totals more than 35 million gallons a year.
Meanwhile, ODOT has grown into a fat bureaucracy of nearly 5,000 workers that constantly pleads poverty and demands we all pay more to get less.
My suggestion: build the roads people need—and pave them with pink slips.
PORTLAND, Ore. — A wildland firefighter arrested by immigration agents while battling the Bear Gulch fire in Washington state has been released after nearly four weeks in detention.
Attorneys for Rigoberto Hernandez Hernandez said Wednesday, September 24, 2025, that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement freed him on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, from the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington. Hernandez has since returned to his home in Oregon.
Advocacy groups say the arrest violated due process and broke with long-standing practice that federal agents do not disrupt emergency responders. ICE confirmed Hernandez’s release but did not explain its decision.
Hernandez has lived on the West Coast since he was 4 years old and has worked as a firefighter for three years. His application for a U-visa, filed in 2018, is still pending. He thanked supporters and said he now hopes to help others as they helped him.
