News and Opinion

Friday, April 18, 2025: Kotek fires head of troubled Oregon public defense agency

Latest News & Opinion Stories

Oregon News

Oregon wolf population surpasses 200 for first time in 8 decades

Kotek fires head of troubled Oregon public defense agency

Advisory group recommends the state block OHSU’s plan to acquire Legacy Health

Oregon companies suffering under Trump tariffs, consumers next, business leaders tell governor

As Oregon Pushes Back Against a Federal K–12 Education Order, What Does It Stand to Lose?

With federal cuts, Oregon hikers will need to ‘step up’ for trails

Oregon adds 7,300 jobs in March, unemployment rate highest since 2021

Oregon Political News

Bills to help Oregon schools fund years of summer learning await governor’s signature

Bill to end maddening protections for unwelcome squatters earns broad support

Oregon Senate votes overwhelmingly for $800 million ‘jock tax’ to fund major league ballpark

Oregon Senate Democrats denounce Trump administration, mistaken deportation of Maryland man

Metropolitan Portland News

Portland residents say the city does an abysmal job delivering this basic service

County commissioner pitches new plan to ease Portland’s mental health crisis

What Portland area officials say they’ll do differently with ‘alarming’ new homelessness data

Portland’s proposed ban on rent-setting algorithms pulled before final vote

Central/Eastern Oregon

Deschutes County snubs Warm Springs Tribes in Thornburgh resort appeal

Willamette Valley News

Oregon State student sues Trump administration for revoking visa

Dozens urge Salem to save library, parks from ‘devastating’ cuts

Southern Oregon

GP City Council votes 6-2 to expand camping site

Details emerge about memo on harassment to Josephine commissioner

Hearing on West’s libel lawsuit against online publisher ends quickly

Josephine County denies all claims in suit filed by publisher

RVTD needs financial lifeline, faces possible 25% reduction in routes, job cuts

Business/Economic News

The Dow’s Thursday tumble, explained

Trump’s Fed independence paradox

Trump claims Powell will resign if asked despite past refusal to step down

TSMC says it will manufacture 30% of most advanced chips in Arizona

Google loses online advertising monopoly case

Public Safety

Multiple victims reported in shooting on FSU campus

Oregon Youth Authority sued over sexual abuse allegations

Natural Resource News

Trump administration proposes pulling back reach of ESA

Transportation News

Transit advocates rally at Oregon’s Capitol to support climate-friendly transportation initiatives

State discovers errors in key study that determines cost share for trucks versus cars to maintain Oregon’s roads

Education News

Universities have few good options under Trump’s pressure campaign

Health News

Florida Democrat chides RFK Jr. over ‘disrespectful’ rhetoric around autism

Energy & Environment

Interior orders offshore wind project halted as Trump seeks ‘no windmills’

National News

Supreme Court “perfectly clear” on returning deported Maryland man: Appeals court

Supreme Court to hear arguments over Trump’s bid to end birthright citizenship

Trump is ‘so happy’ the Supreme Court will hear birthright citizenship case and predicts victory

U.S. intelligence contradicts Trump’s justification for mass deportations without due process

Trump Has for Months Privately Discussed Firing Fed’s Powell

Appeals court won’t lift order to ‘facilitate’ Abrego Garcia’s return in blistering opinion

Appeals court appears split on AP access to White House

National Campaign News

Nate Silver gives early nod to Ocasio-Cortez for 2028

National Political News

Top House Republicans refuse to authorize El Salvador trips

These are the lawmakers who have visited CECOT, El Salvador’s mega-prison

An influential GOP senator is contradicting Trump’s team — and getting away with it

Top Pentagon spokesperson resigning this week

Murkowski: ‘We are all afraid’ of upheaval, retaliation under Trump

Slotkin: Trump is ‘very effectively flooding the zone’

U.S. Department of Justice sues Maine over transgender athlete policy

Tariff News

Chinese manufacturers push buying direct in tariff-driven TikTok trend

Trump promises a trade deal with Europe

The ideological twist in Elon Musk’s tariff opposition

DOGE News

Scoop: Democrats seek probe of DOGE’s Social Security meddling

Opinion

Trump Looks Willing to Write Off an Entire Continent

Medicaid cuts jeopardize the right to age at home

Congress, DOGE turned the Social Security Fairness Act from a win to a loss 

Too much communication: For cell phones in schools, simpler may be better

Opinion: Oregonians can’t afford the Trump administration’s costly trade wars