Claire Rush

Interstate 84 was temporarily closed for about 70 miles in eastern Oregon as the Fox Fire burned near the Oregon-Idaho border. Huntington was placed under a Level 3 evacuation order after the fire approached homes, while firefighters built containment lines and protected nearby railroad infrastructure. The blaze had burned nearly 72 square miles and remained entirely uncontained, with hot, dry and windy conditions complicating firefighting efforts. Other wildfire-related closures and evacuation warnings remained in effect elsewhere in Oregon, including near Burns, Vale and Sisters.

Nineteen-year-old reseller Quinn Brown bought a Wilt Chamberlain Lakers warmup jacket for $3.07 at an Oregon Goodwill store. Photographic comparisons and stitching details led Sotheby's to authenticate it as game-worn during the 1972 NBA Finals, when Chamberlain won Finals MVP and the Lakers defeated the Knicks. The jacket is being auctioned with an estimate exceeding $150,000, following the $4.9 million sale of Chamberlain's 1972 Finals jersey in 2023.

California farmer Cesar Mora is giving away more than 100,000 pounds of Monalise white nectarines while he disputes Giumarra Brothers Fruit Co.'s claim that it has exclusive rights to market the variety. Mora says Giumarra breached its agreements and caused financial losses, while the company maintains that the dispute concerns valid written contracts and should be resolved at trial. A Fresno County judge ruled that Giumarra's contract claim can proceed regardless of whether the fruit is covered by a patent. The case highlights tensions between growers and breeders or marketers that control access to proprietary crop varieties.

Nike, Adidas and Puma developed World Cup kits that combine heat management and performance features with symbols of national identity. Nike tested uniforms in thermal chambers and motion-capture facilities before introducing a more breathable, fully recycled fabric with strategically placed mesh. Designs incorporate cultural and national references, including France’s Statue of Liberty-inspired away kit, the rooster and stars on its jersey, the United States’ flag-like stripes and Canada’s maple leaf. Nike also acknowledged and corrected shoulder-seam problems identified on some France and Uruguay jerseys before the tournament.

Robert Jacob Hoopes was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon for throwing a rock that struck an ICE officer in the head during a Portland protest. He also received three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay more than $8,000 in restitution. The case is part of a broader series of prosecutions linked to months of demonstrations and clashes outside Portland’s ICE facility, with other defendants receiving sentences ranging from probation to prison.

Jesse Calhoun pleaded not guilty to a fifth second-degree murder charge, linked to the 2023 death of Ashley Real, and now faces five murder counts and four counts of abuse of a corpse. Relatives of Real and the other alleged victims attended the Portland hearing and described their grief, while Real’s father said she had previously reported that Calhoun choked her. Calhoun remains jailed, and no trial date has been set.

A chemical tank containing more than 500,000 gallons of caustic material ruptured at Nippon Dynawave Packaging in Longview, Washington, killing 11 people and damaging vehicles and buildings. The disaster has devastated a community whose families and local economy have been tied to timber and paper mills for generations. Residents and officials are mourning the victims, stressing the importance of the plant’s roughly 1,000 jobs, and calling for an investigation into the collapse so similar workplace accidents can be prevented.

Crews recovered another victim after a chemical tank collapsed at Nippon Dynawave Packaging’s paper mill in Longview, Washington, leaving two workers unaccounted for and 11 dead. The recovery was slowed by caustic chemicals, damaged structures and other industrial hazards, while the disaster’s cause remained under investigation. Friends and relatives identified several victims, including two brothers, an electrician, a trivia competitor and a farmer who helped neighbors. Eight people were injured, including a firefighter. Authorities said air and drinking water were not contaminated, although some diluted chemical contamination reached the Columbia River without a noticeable environmental effect.

A tank rupture at Nippon Dynawave Packaging’s paper mill in Longview, Washington, killed or is presumed to have killed 11 workers and injured eight others. The spill released more than 500,000 gallons of corrosive white liquor, forcing authorities to conduct a slow and hazardous recovery operation while investigating the cause. Victims included electrician and grandfather Gilbert Bernal and 26-year-old husband CJ Doran, whose friends described them as compassionate and devoted family members. Officials said air and drinking water were not contaminated, while crews worked to dilute wastewater before releasing it into the Columbia River; the EPA reported no noticeable effect from the contamination that reached the river.

Authorities said there was no hope of finding nine workers missing after a large chemical tank imploded at Nippon Dynawave Packaging in Longview, Washington, killing at least one person and injuring nine others, including a firefighter. Crews delayed recovery efforts until the damaged tank could be stabilized and worked only in daylight because of the risk of further collapse and leakage. The tank had contained roughly 900,000 gallons of caustic white liquor, used to process wood into kraft paper. Officials said there was no threat to the surrounding community, while the cause of the implosion remained unknown. The company had received safety complaints earlier in the year and had been fined for three health and safety violations since 2021, though officials said the complaints were unrelated to the failed tank.

Oregon voters are considering Measure 120, which would repeal a recently enacted increase in the state gas tax from 40 to 46 cents per gallon, along with higher transit, registration and title fees. Republicans are campaigning against the measure as gas prices rise, while Democrats have struggled to defend the increase despite citing the need to maintain transportation funding as fuel-efficient and electric vehicles reduce future tax revenue. The ballot also includes crowded gubernatorial primaries, with incumbent Democrat Tina Kotek seeking reelection and Republicans including Christine Drazan, Ed Diehl, Chris Dudley and David Medina. Most congressional races are expected to be noncompetitive, although Oregon’s 5th District remains a key contest.

Gerry Conway, the comic book writer who helped shape Marvel and DC universes, died of pancreatic cancer in Thousand Oaks, California, at 73. He began writing The Amazing Spider-Man at 19, contributed pivotal stories including Gwen Stacy's death, and co-created the Punisher, Firestorm, Jason Todd and Power Girl. Marvel and DC executives paid tribute to his influence, while the article also notes Conway's objection to police use of the Punisher's skull emblem. He is survived by his wife, Laura, and two daughters.

An Oregon Court of Appeals panel overturned and remanded a class-action ruling against PacifiCorp, finding that jurors were improperly instructed to apply evidence from four separate 2020 wildfires to all class members. The decision could affect more than $1 billion in damages awarded to thousands of property owners, although plaintiffs' attorneys said it was a procedural setback and that retrial or other paths remain available. PacifiCorp has separately agreed to more than $2 billion in wildfire-related settlements and is planning a $1.9 billion sale of Washington assets to ease financial pressure caused in part by litigation bonds.

A Portland soccer tournament for immigrant and refugee girls used sport to create joy, belonging and safety amid fears of intensified federal immigration enforcement. Organizer Som Subedi, a Bhutanese refugee and community advocate, said ICE should be kept away from soccer fields and families’ fears. Participants included girls whose relatives had faced deportation, including 15-year-old Valeria Hernandez, whose brother was deported to Mexico. Local police and an immigrant-rights group attended in supportive roles under Oregon’s sanctuary law, while donations made the tournament free and provided equipment. The event brought together players from diverse communities, including Mexico, Somalia, Syria and Myanmar, reinforcing soccer’s role in building solidarity during an immigration crackdown.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily paused lower-court orders limiting federal officers’ use of tear gas and other chemical munitions at protests outside the Portland ICE building. The 2-1 ruling granted the Trump administration’s request for administrative stays while appeals proceed. The lawsuits, brought by the ACLU of Oregon on behalf of protesters and journalists and by nearby residents, allege that the use of chemical and projectile weapons violated their rights. The Department of Homeland Security argues officers may take necessary action to address violence. Oral arguments in the consolidated appeals are scheduled for April 7.

Oregon lawmakers approved $2.1 million to purchase Abiqua Falls and surrounding land after its nonprofit owner listed the popular waterfall for auction. The acquisition still depends on environmental and archaeological due diligence by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, and the property may be managed by a state, local or tribal authority rather than becoming a state park. Conservationists welcomed the move, while officials warned that the remote, difficult-to-access site could strain Oregon's already stretched parks system and budget.

U.S. District Judge Michael Simon issued a preliminary injunction restricting federal officers' use of tear gas, pepper spray, pepper-ball rounds, and other chemical or projectile munitions at protests outside Portland's ICE building. The order generally requires an imminent threat of physical harm before such force can be used, prohibits firing at the head, neck, or torso except when deadly force is justified, and bars indiscriminate pepper-spray deployment. Simon cited video evidence showing officers targeting peaceful protesters and journalists without dispersal warnings, while DHS maintains that officers followed training and used the minimum force necessary. The order provisionally covers a broader class of peaceful protesters and reporters and will remain in effect as the ACLU-backed lawsuit proceeds.

A federal judge in Oregon issued a preliminary injunction restricting federal officers from using tear gas or other chemical munitions in quantities likely to reach Portland’s Gray’s Landing affordable-housing complex, except when necessary to address an imminent threat to life. Residents, many of whom are older, disabled or low-income veterans, reported breathing problems, burning eyes, hives, anxiety and panic attacks after months of exposure during protests outside a nearby ICE facility. The property manager and tenants allege that the government violated their constitutional rights by sickening residents, contaminating their apartments and confining them indoors. ICE and the Department of Homeland Security argue that officers used crowd-control devices in response to violent, obstructive or trespassing crowds and deny that incidental drift makes otherwise lawful deployments unconstitutional. The injunction remains in effect while the lawsuit proceeds, alongside a separate ACLU of Oregon case seeking similar limits.

Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tyler Jaggers died after suffering injuries during a February 27 medical evacuation mission off Washington’s coast. Before his death, his family arranged a hospital-room wedding proposal on behalf of his partner, Cassandra Weaver, and the Coast Guard promoted him to petty officer 2nd class and awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism. Jaggers reportedly fell while being lowered from a helicopter onto a vessel, and an investigation into the cause of his injuries is ongoing.

A Multnomah County jury ordered PacifiCorp to pay $305 million to 16 victims of Oregon’s 2020 Santiam Canyon wildfire, adding to more than $1 billion in damages awarded against the utility in related class-action trials. PacifiCorp maintains that it did not start or contribute to the fire and is appealing the verdicts. The 2020 Labor Day fires killed 11 people, burned about 1,560 square miles and destroyed thousands of homes. More than 1,000 additional class members have trials scheduled for 2026 and 2027, while PacifiCorp has separately agreed to pay over $2 billion to settle claims linked to the fires.

A federal judge in Oregon ordered Columbia and Snake river dams to maintain last year’s reservoir levels and spill levels to protect declining salmon. The ruling preserves the status quo after the Trump administration abandoned a 2023 Biden-era agreement that included $1 billion for salmon restoration and tribal clean-energy projects. Conservation groups, Oregon, Washington and Native American tribes argue that the dams severely impede salmon migration, while federal officials and navigation interests warn that higher spill levels could threaten infrastructure, power generation, irrigation, safety and commerce. The Columbia River Basin has lost four salmon stocks, while seven others are endangered or threatened.

A powerful nor’easter and bomb cyclone dumped more than two feet of snow across parts of the Northeastern United States, with record snowfall in Rhode Island, hurricane-force winds, widespread power outages and more than 2,000 canceled flights. Roads, transit systems and electricity services began recovering, but major disruptions remained, including suspended Staten Island rail service and continued school closures or remote learning. New York City reopened schools despite concerns from educators and local officials, while forecasters warned that another, weaker storm could add more snow and complicate cleanup.

A major snowstorm buried parts of the northeastern United States under more than a foot of snow, with snowfall rates reaching 2 to 3 inches per hour. Long Island MacArthur Airport recorded 22.5 inches, while Freehold, New Jersey, received 22 inches and parts of New York City recorded accumulations in the mid-to-high teens. Blizzard warnings, road travel bans, strong winds and poor visibility disrupted travel and closed schools.

A severe winter storm is affecting the northeastern United States, with blizzard warnings, heavy snowfall, strong winds, and possible whiteout conditions and power outages. New York City, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Philadelphia imposed emergency measures including travel bans, while flights and public transportation were disrupted. Schools in New York City and Boston closed, Philadelphia moved classes online, and cultural events were cancelled or postponed as the storm was expected to intensify into a bomb cyclone.

A powerful winter storm brought heavy snow, high winds and dangerous travel conditions across the northeastern United States. New York City, New Jersey and Rhode Island imposed non-emergency travel restrictions, while airports canceled flights and public transit was suspended in some areas. Blizzard warnings extended from Maryland to Maine, with forecasts of up to 1 to 2 feet of snow and possible bomb-cyclone development. Schools, cultural institutions and Broadway shows closed, and officials prepared for whiteout conditions, damaged trees and prolonged power outages. Snow-removal crews and outreach workers also mobilized to clear roads and move unhoused people into shelters and warming centers.

PacifiCorp has agreed to pay $575 million to settle U.S. government claims that its power lines negligently caused six wildfires in Oregon and California in 2020 and 2022. The funds will support restoration of about 290,000 acres of federal land and reimburse firefighting costs. The settlement adds to more than $2 billion in wildfire-related claims PacifiCorp has resolved, while its appeals and ongoing trials over the deadly 2020 Oregon fires continue. Facing financial strain from judgments and court bonds, the utility also plans to sell Washington assets to Portland General Electric for $1.9 billion.

Residents of Portland’s Gray’s Landing affordable housing complex are asking a federal judge to restrict immigration officers’ use of tear gas and other crowd-control weapons near their homes. Tenants report breathing problems, contamination and trauma from repeated exposure, with some using gas masks, sealed windows and closets for protection. The federal government argues the devices were used against violent, obstructive or trespassing crowds and that accidental drift into homes does not automatically violate constitutional rights. The case follows a separate Oregon ruling that temporarily limited tear-gas use during protests at the ICE facility.

Oregon, Washington, Native American tribes and conservation groups are returning to federal court to seek operational changes at eight Columbia and Snake River dams after the Trump administration withdrew from the 2023 Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement. The plaintiffs argue that current dam operations violate the Endangered Species Act and are seeking lower reservoir levels and increased water spill to improve salmon migration. The federal government calls the request an unsafe and sweeping attempt to control the hydropower system and warns of higher utility costs, while navigation interests say increased spill could disrupt commerce. The litigation concerns salmon and steelhead populations that have suffered severe declines, with implications for tribal cultural identity, endangered killer whales, hydropower, farming and regional shipping.

A federal judge in Oregon has preliminarily prohibited ICE agents from making warrantless arrests except when they have probable cause to believe a person will flee. The ruling follows evidence that agents arrested people during immigration sweeps without administrative warrants or a determination that escape was likely, including the detention of plaintiff Victor Cruz Gamez despite his valid work permit and pending visa application. Judge Mustafa Kasubhai criticized the alleged use of force and warned that the administration’s enforcement practices risk denying due process. Innovation Law Lab brought the proposed class-action lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security.

A federal judge in Oregon temporarily barred officers from using tear gas and other chemical or projectile munitions at Portland ICE protests unless a targeted person poses an imminent threat of physical harm, and restricted strikes to the head, neck or torso absent justification for deadly force. The 14-day order followed an ACLU of Oregon lawsuit alleging that federal agents injured protesters, elderly demonstrators and journalists, and used force that chilled First Amendment rights. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson condemned the operations and called for ICE to leave the city, while the Department of Homeland Security had not immediately responded. The ruling comes amid similar legal battles over federal crowd-control tactics in Minnesota and Chicago during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

Luis David Nino-Moncada pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault on a federal employee and damaging federal property after a Border Patrol agent shot and wounded him during an immigration stop in Portland, Oregon. Prosecutors and agents allege that he repeatedly rammed a rented vehicle into another car, creating a threat to agents and the public; the FBI said it found no surveillance video of the shooting. Nino-Moncada remains in custody, with a release hearing scheduled and a jury trial set for March. Passenger Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, who was also wounded, is being held in immigration detention and faces an illegal-entry charge. The incident has fueled protests over federal immigration-enforcement tactics.

The FBI says investigators found no body-camera, surveillance or other video of a Border Patrol agent shooting two people in a pickup truck during an immigration operation in Portland. Agents said they fired after the truck reversed into an unoccupied vehicle and then moved forward, creating a perceived threat. Driver Luis David Nino-Moncada was wounded, arrested and ordered detained on assault and property-damage charges, while passenger Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras was hospitalized and later held in immigration detention. The shooting has fueled protests over federal immigration-enforcement tactics, with Homeland Security alleging both Venezuelan nationals have ties to the Tren de Aragua gang and the defense arguing that the charges are intended to justify dangerous agent behavior.

An Associated Press review of 166 federal cases in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Portland and Chicago found that aggressive prosecutions of protesters have often weakened in court. Of 100 people initially charged with felony assaults on federal agents, 55 had charges reduced or dismissed, and prosecutors lost all five misdemeanor trials they pursued. The review found little court evidence supporting claims that protesters were antifa or domestic terrorists. Fifty-eight people still face felony indictments, while the Justice Department maintains it will pursue the most serious charges against anyone who endangers federal officers.

An Associated Press review of 166 federal cases arising from protests against Donald Trump's immigration crackdown found that many of the Justice Department's aggressive felony prosecutions have weakened or collapsed. Of 100 people initially charged with felony assaults, 55 had charges reduced or dismissed, and all five defendants tried so far were acquitted. Video evidence, minor or nonexistent injuries and failed grand-jury indictments frequently undermined prosecutors' allegations. The cases included protesters such as Sidney Lori Reid, Dana Briggs, Lucy Shepherd and Marimar Martinez, whose charges were dismissed or ended in acquittal. Legal experts said the pattern suggests the administration is using criminal prosecutions and rhetoric about antifa and domestic terrorism to deter protest, while officials maintain that serious charges are necessary to protect federal agents.

A breached levee near the White River in Pacific, Washington, prompted police to order residents to evacuate and led the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood warning. The breach followed days of heavy rain and widespread flooding across western Washington. An earlier failure at the Desimone levee near the Green River had led King County to evacuate about 1,100 homes and businesses in parts of Kent, Renton and Tukwila, but that evacuation alert was lifted after crews reinforced the levee and officials determined it was safe to return. No injuries were reported.

An unusually strong atmospheric river dumped more than a foot of rain across parts of western and central Washington, causing record flooding, mudslides, road and bridge failures, and widespread evacuations. Authorities rescued residents from homes, rooftops and vehicles by boat and helicopter, while the National Guard helped evacuate Burlington residents and crews worked to reinforce a threatened levee in Tukwila. President Donald Trump approved Washington’s emergency declaration. No deaths had been reported, but officials warned that rivers would remain high, levee failures and mudslides were still possible, and additional rain could cause renewed rises.

Historic flooding across Washington state has forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate, stranded families on rooftops, damaged roads and bridges, and caused at least two homes to collapse into the Nooksack River. Rivers including the Snohomish and Skagit have reached or exceeded records, threatening communities such as Sumas, Mount Vernon, Concrete and Burlington. Emergency crews have rescued residents by helicopter, while officials warn that additional flooding could be catastrophic. Scientists say climate change generally increases the intensity and frequency of extreme rainfall and flooding, although no direct link has been established for this specific event.

Heavy rain and another forecast storm are threatening catastrophic flooding across western Washington, prompting evacuation orders, emergency declarations, road closures and rescues. The Skagit River is expected to reach historically high levels near Concrete and Mount Vernon, where officials fear older levees and the city’s floodwall could be overwhelmed. Washington is deploying hundreds of National Guard members and requesting water-rescue resources, while authorities in Skagit, Pierce and other counties move residents to safety. Scientists say climate change generally increases the intensity and frequency of extreme storms, though no direct attribution has been made for this event.

A powerful atmospheric-river storm caused flooding, road closures, power outages, school closures and multiple rescues across Washington and Oregon. Officials evacuated residents, opened shelters and deployed temporary flood barriers, while forecasters warned that rivers—including the Skagit River—could reach record or major-flood levels later in the week. More rain is expected through the weekend, with additional severe winter weather forecast for Alaska, the northern Rockies and the Upper Midwest.

Ten Democratic secretaries of state are demanding answers from Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about the Justice Department’s requests for detailed voter-registration data. They say federal officials gave contradictory accounts about whether voter files were shared with Homeland Security and entered into the expanded SAVE citizenship-verification system. The Justice Department has sought data from at least 26 states and sued eight, while states and voting-rights groups raise concerns about privacy, legal compliance and the possible unlawful removal of eligible voters. The officials want responses by December 1 on data sharing, security and confidentiality measures.

Former Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson was sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release after attempting to shut down the engines of a Horizon Air passenger flight in October 2023. The flight crew restrained him and diverted the aircraft safely to Portland. Emerson pleaded guilty or no contest to federal and state charges and will also serve probation, community service, restitution and mental-health and substance-use requirements imposed by an Oregon state court. The case renewed scrutiny of cockpit safety and the mental fitness of people permitted in flight decks.

Former Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson is set to be sentenced after attempting to activate a passenger plane’s engine fire-suppression system during a Horizon Air flight in October 2023. The aircraft was safely diverted to Portland after crew members subdued him. Emerson said he was despondent, had not slept for 40 hours, and believed he was dreaming after taking psychedelic mushrooms days earlier. Federal prosecutors are seeking a one-year prison sentence, while his legal team is advocating probation following a state sentence of time served, probation, community service, and restitution.

Former Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson is scheduled for federal sentencing after pleading guilty to interfering with a flight crew during a 2023 Horizon Air flight from Washington to San Francisco. Emerson, who said he had not slept for more than 40 hours and believed he was dreaming after taking psychedelic mushrooms, attempted to activate controls that could have shut off the plane’s engines. Crew members restrained him, and the aircraft landed safely in Portland with more than 80 people aboard. Oregon sentenced him to time served, probation, community service and restitution, while federal prosecutors seek one year in prison and his attorneys request probation. The case has renewed scrutiny of cockpit access, pilot mental fitness and aviation safety.

A federal judge permanently blocked the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops to Portland, ruling that the legal conditions for such action were not met. Judge Karin Immergut found no rebellion or comparable danger and determined that protests outside the Portland ICE building were largely peaceful, with only isolated violence. The decision followed a lawsuit and trial brought by Portland and Oregon, whose attorney general welcomed the ruling as a reaffirmation of fact-based enforcement of the law.

A federal judge permanently barred the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops to Portland, ruling that it had not shown a rebellion, danger of rebellion, or an inability to enforce the law with regular forces. The court found that protests outside the city's ICE facility were largely peaceful after isolated disturbances in June and had not significantly impeded immigration enforcement. Oregon and Portland had challenged the deployment, while Trump argued troops were needed to protect federal personnel and property. The ruling reinforces limits on domestic military deployments and may influence related appeals and disputes involving other Democratic-led cities.

A federal judge in Oregon temporarily barred the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard to Portland, finding no credible evidence that protests had become sufficiently violent or uncontrollable to meet federal legal requirements for domestic military use. The ruling followed a three-day trial and extensive testimony, including evidence that violence was sporadic, damage to the ICE facility was limited, and local police remained able to respond. The decision is part of broader legal disputes over National Guard deployments in Democratic-led cities, while an 11-judge Ninth Circuit panel is set to reconsider related appellate proceedings.

A federal trial is beginning in Portland over whether President Donald Trump can deploy the National Guard to the city. Portland and Oregon argue that Trump has not met Congress’s legal requirements for domestic military deployment and that federal officers have used excessive force at protests outside an ICE facility. The administration claims the protests have impeded federal law enforcement and amount to a rebellion or danger of rebellion, while also accusing Portland police of failing to provide adequate assistance. Judge Karin Immergut has twice blocked the deployment, calling Trump’s description of Portland “war ravaged” unsupported by the facts, although the case is also being reconsidered by an expanded Ninth Circuit panel. The trial is expected to last three days and could affect similar disputes, including Chicago’s separate challenge.

A federal judge in Oregon issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Trump administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from withdrawing sex-education grants because curricula mention diverse gender identities. Sixteen states and the District of Columbia argued that the restrictions violated federal law, separation-of-powers principles and statutory requirements for medically accurate education. Judge Ann Aiken found that HHS had not adequately supported or justified the new grant conditions. The dispute concerns the PREP and Title V programs, which provide at least $35 million to the plaintiff states, while California has already lost a $12 million grant over the policy.

An inflatable frog costume worn by Portland protester Seth Todd became a viral symbol after a federal officer sprayed chemicals into its air vent. The costumes have since spread through anti-Trump demonstrations, including No Kings marches, where protesters use them to counter the Trump administration’s portrayal of Portland as violent and dangerous. Grassroots groups such as the Portland Frog Brigade and Operation Inflation are distributing costumes, presenting them as playful, nonviolent tools of protest while clashes continue around Portland’s ICE facility and a proposed National Guard deployment remains blocked by the courts.

The annual West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta in Tualatin, Oregon, drew large crowds to watch costumed participants race across a man-made lake in enormous hollowed-out pumpkins. Gary Kristensen won the first race in a 936-pound pumpkin while dressed as Buddy from Elf, after previously setting a Guinness World Record for a 58-mile pumpkin-boat journey on the Columbia River. Competitor Brad Bahns raced a personal-record 1,376-pound pumpkin after growing it for six months. Organizers and growers prepared the pumpkins with heavy machinery and extensive carving, while participants wore costumes including Squid Game, Guy Fieri, Elvis, Luigi, Shrek and a hot dog.

Francisco Miranda, a U.S. citizen born in California, was allegedly stopped outside his workplace in Portland by masked plainclothes officers who accused him of being in the country illegally. His attorney, Michael Fuller, says agents struck Miranda, handcuffed him and transported him to an ICE facility, where he was held for several hours before being returned to work. ICE and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Fuller has demanded records explaining the detention and sent a tort claim notice to DHS, while Representative Janelle Bynum condemned the incident amid broader concerns about aggressive immigration enforcement.

Donald Trump and members of his administration portray Portland as a violent war zone dominated by antifa, but available evidence shows a more limited pattern of protests and occasional clashes concentrated around an ICE facility. Fires and arrests have occurred, yet most nights before the National Guard deployment involved only a few dozen protesters, while much of the city continued operating normally. Claims that Portland lacks sewers, has widespread boarded-up shops or is concealing terrorism are contradicted by city data, police records and on-the-ground observations. Oregon officials oppose military intervention and say local authorities can manage the situation, while Portland has experienced improving crime, retail activity and downtown conditions since the unrest of 2020.

Donald Trump announced that he would direct the Department of Defense to send troops to Portland, Oregon, claiming that federal immigration facilities faced attacks from Antifa and other domestic terrorists. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek rejected the need for a deployment, while the Oregon National Guard said it had received no official request. The announcement follows planned or threatened deployments to Memphis and Chicago and comes amid continuing but substantially quieter protests around Portland’s ICE facility. Local officials and residents described the city as calm, highlighted downtown recovery and cited a 17% decline in violent crime during the first half of the year. Details about the timing, size and legal basis of the Portland deployment remained unclear.

Sixteen states and the District of Columbia sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in federal court in Oregon, arguing that threatened cuts to sexual-education grants unlawfully pressure states to remove references to diverse gender identities. HHS has given states 60 days to revise curricula funded through the PREP and SRAE programs, while California already lost a $12 million grant. The plaintiffs say the conditions violate federal law, separation of powers and Congress’s spending authority, putting at least $35 million in funding at risk. Oregon, Washington and Minnesota are leading the challenge, which focuses on protecting inclusive sexual-health education for transgender and gender-diverse youth.

Oregon authorities identified remains known as “Swamp Mountain Jane Doe” as Marion Vinetta Nagle McWhorter, who disappeared in 1974 at age 21. The identification followed decades of searching by her younger sister Valerie Nagle, advances in DNA analysis, and genetic genealogy using profiles from FamilyTreeDNA and Ancestry. McWhorter’s death is considered unlikely to have been voluntary, and the Linn County Sheriff's Office is investigating how she died.

Portland plans to issue a land-use violation notice to the city’s ICE facility, alleging that people were detained overnight or for more than 12 hours in violation of conditions attached to the building’s 2011 approval. The city identified 25 alleged violations between October 2024 and July 2025 based on ICE data obtained by the Deportation Data Project. ICE had not responded to requests for comment. The notice gives the facility 30 days to correct the issue and could lead to fines or reconsideration of its land-use approval. The action comes amid nightly protests at the building, President Donald Trump’s threats to deploy federal troops to Portland, and continuing debate over Oregon and Portland sanctuary policies.

President Donald Trump has threatened to send federal troops to Portland, describing the city as a dangerous “hellscape,” but Mayor Keith Wilson says federal intervention is neither requested nor necessary. Nightly protests outside an ICE facility continue, involving occasional clashes and federal charges against at least 26 demonstrators, but the unrest is substantially smaller than the 2020 protests following George Floyd’s murder. Local crime data show Portland homicides fell 51 percent in the first half of the year compared with the same period in 2024. Residents and a nearby charter school report serious disruption from noise, chemical agents and crowd-control devices, while protesters defend the demonstrations as opposition to ICE. The dispute reflects broader tensions over immigration enforcement, public safety and the federal government’s threatened use of troops in cities.

An AP-NORC/Harris poll finds that most U.S. adults view personal choices as a major cause of persistent poverty, while many also blame unfair systems and insufficient government support. Americans broadly believe poverty and homelessness have increased, despite poverty rates falling by many measures, with greater visibility of unsheltered homelessness contributing to that perception. More respondents favor removing homeless encampments than oppose it, though views are sharply divided by party. A majority believes the government spends too little on assistance, and federal and state governments are seen as having more responsibility for addressing poverty and homelessness than charities or wealthy individuals.

Former Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson is expected to plead guilty to a federal charge of interfering with a flight crew and no contest to Oregon charges related to endangering 83 people and an aircraft. Emerson allegedly tried to activate cockpit controls that would have cut fuel to the engines of a Horizon Air flight in October 2023; the plane was diverted to Portland and landed safely. Under the agreements, federal prosecutors may recommend up to one year in prison while Emerson’s attorneys will seek no additional incarceration. The state deal calls for five years of probation, 664 hours of community service, $60,569 in restitution, substance-use and mental-health assessments, and restrictions on access to aircraft.

Former Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson has reached plea agreements with federal and Oregon prosecutors over his 2023 attempt to shut down the engines of a Horizon Air flight while seated in the cockpit. He is expected to plead guilty to interfering with a flight crew and enter a no-contest plea to state charges of endangering 83 people and an aircraft. Emerson said he was affected by grief, psychedelic mushrooms and prolonged sleep deprivation, and believed he was dreaming. The incident renewed scrutiny of cockpit access, aviation safety and pilots’ mental health.

Oregon lawmakers are considering a mandatory road usage charge for electric vehicle owners during a special session aimed at closing a $300 million transportation budget gap caused partly by declining fuel-tax revenue. Governor Tina Kotek’s proposal would impose a charge equivalent to 2.3 cents per mile, or an annual fee of $340, while also raising the gas tax and other fees. Hawaii is already phasing in a similar program, and Oregon’s plan would eventually include hybrids. Supporters view mileage-based fees as a long-term replacement for lost fuel-tax revenue, while critics raise privacy, data security and fairness concerns and warn that excessive charges could discourage electric-vehicle adoption. Arizona voters are expected to consider a measure that would prohibit mileage-based taxes or fees.

An Oregon man identified as Dowdy pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree manslaughter and several assault, DUI and driving-with-a-suspended-license charges after crossing the center line and crashing into a bus carrying the Umpqua Community College softball team on April 18. Coach Jami Strinz and player Kiley Jones died, while eight other passengers and Dowdy were injured. Dowdy is scheduled to be sentenced on September 11.

Firefighters are trying to save the Doerner Fir, a more than 450-year-old Douglas fir in Oregon’s Coast Range that stands over 99 metres tall. Fire is smouldering inside a cavity roughly 280 feet above the ground, making it difficult to reach. Helicopter water drops, sprinklers and containment lines have reduced activity, while crews are considering scaffolding, tree climbing or monitored smouldering. The fire’s cause remains under investigation, and about 50 feet of the tree’s top has already been lost, though officials say the tree is not currently at risk of burning down completely.

Grants Pass, Oregon, has agreed to provide at least 150 ADA-compliant camping spaces for 12 months, along with drinking water, hand-washing stations and $60,000 for homeless services, under a settlement with Disability Rights Oregon. The agreement followed a state court injunction blocking enforcement of the city’s camping rules unless accessible capacity was restored. The settlement comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that communities may ban outdoor sleeping even when shelter beds are unavailable, prompting Grants Pass to restrict camping and close a larger site. The city will continue enforcing limits at designated sites, subject to disability accommodations.

A reinforced sandbag wall helped protect Juneau from the worst annual glacial outburst flooding from Mendenhall Glacier, limiting damage compared with the devastating floods of the previous two years. The barrier protects more than 460 properties but is temporary, costly for homeowners and still requires extensions and repairs. Scientists cannot yet determine how climate change will alter the size and frequency of future floods, while glacier retreat could create new glacially dammed lakes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has nearly $5 million for initial studies and data collection, but officials and residents are pressing for a permanent solution much sooner than the decade the temporary barriers are designed to provide.

Women lawmakers across the United States continue to face inadequate restroom access in historic statehouses designed when legislatures were overwhelmingly male. Kentucky and Tennessee are highlighted for particularly limited facilities, while planned renovations in Kentucky and Georgia aim to expand access and improve compliance with disability standards. Historical examples from Maryland, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico and the U.S. Capitol show that women have often missed votes or relied on improvised solutions. The broader issue is presented as one of equal representation, respect and whether public institutions accommodate the people who serve in them.

Bryan Kohberger was sentenced in Boise to four consecutive life sentences without parole and an additional 10-year sentence for burglary after pleading guilty to killing University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Ethan Chapin. At the hearing, surviving roommates described enduring trauma, while relatives expressed grief, anger, refusal to forgive and, in some cases, religiously grounded forgiveness. Prosecutor Bill Thompson defended the plea deal, which avoided the death penalty, despite disagreement among victims’ families. Judge Steven Hippler acknowledged the families’ desire to know Kohberger’s motive but warned that giving him attention could grant him further power; Kohberger declined to speak and waived his right to appeal.

Authorities in central Oregon continued searching for two people presumed dead after a group was swept over Dillon Falls on the Deschutes River near Bend. One person died at the scene and three others were rescued with minor injuries. Divers, boats, drones and dogs were deployed, while investigators worked to determine how the group entered the hazardous falls and how the survivors avoided going through them.

Parents were shaken after ICE officers arrested Iranian citizen Mahdi Khanbabazadeh outside a Montessori preschool in Beaverton, Oregon, reportedly breaking his car window during the detention. ICE said he overstayed his visa, stopped cooperating and resisted arrest; his wife disputes that account, saying he maintained lawful status and was awaiting a decision on his green-card application. The incident has renewed concerns about immigration enforcement at schools after the Trump administration lifted restrictions on arrests in such settings. The preschool’s operator expressed distress over the potential impact on children, while Khanbabazadeh remains detained at an ICE facility in Tacoma, Washington.

The Oregon Legislature voted to repeal the state’s contested wildfire hazard maps and the related defensible-space and fire-resistant building requirements. The maps, developed by the Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon State University scientists, affected about 6% of the state’s tax lots and were criticized by Republicans and rural homeowners as burdensome and flawed. Supporters argued they were necessary to identify and protect fire-prone communities amid increasingly severe wildfires. The repeal bill would let local governments choose whether to adopt model codes and now goes to Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek.

Highly visible immigration arrests under the Trump administration are prompting ordinary residents across the United States to record federal agents, confront them and organize protests. In San Diego, neighbors protested an ICE raid at an Italian restaurant where four workers were detained; in Downey, California, witnesses recorded masked agents pursuing a man who was not ultimately detained. Arrests and attempted detentions at workplaces, gyms and immigration facilities have generated further alarm. Officials including border czar Tom Homan and Vice President JD Vance blame sanctuary policies for forcing agents into communities and criticize protesters, while residents say the public nature of the operations has made inaction impossible. In Spokane, more than 30 protesters—including former city councilor Ben Stuckart—were arrested after attempting to block the transport of two Venezuelan asylum seekers.

Immigration officers have intensified arrests in and around U.S. immigration courthouses after government lawyers dismiss removal cases, placing many asylum seekers on a fast track to expedited deportation. The practice has created a dilemma for migrants who must choose between attending hearings and risking detention or avoiding court and receiving automatic removal orders. Attorneys and advocates say the tactic is intended to intimidate migrants and hinder access to legal help, while the Department of Homeland Security says recent arrivals remain subject to expedited removal unless they establish a valid fear of persecution. Judges in Seattle and Atlanta handled the dismissals differently, with one Atlanta judge resisting several requests, though officers still detained some migrants outside the court.

The Digital Equity Act, a $2.75 billion program created in 2021 to expand internet access, provide devices, support telehealth and offer digital-skills training, is at risk after Donald Trump called it “racist” and “illegal” and moved to stop its funding. Although the law received broad bipartisan support and targets groups including older adults, veterans, rural residents, people with disabilities and low-income families, many approved grants have not been paid. Nonprofits and local organizations say the funding halt threatens programs that help people access education, jobs, health care and essential online services, while advocates argue that eliminating the program because of the word “equity” will deepen the digital divide.

Oregon lawmakers approved changes to the state’s 1971 bottle redemption law by votes of 48-4 in the House and 28-1 in the Senate. The changes allow stores statewide to refuse container returns after 8 p.m., permit convenience stores in areas with alternative sites to stop hand-counted returns at 6 p.m., and authorize nonprofit-operated alternatives in Portland, potentially including mobile redemption trucks. Supporters say the changes address employee safety and problems linked to homelessness and fentanyl addiction, while opponents warn they could make it harder for people who depend on bottle refunds to pay for basic needs. The program remains highly used, with 87% of eligible containers returned in 2023.

Oregon lawmakers are considering changes to the state’s 54-year-old bottle redemption law after Portland residents and retailers raised concerns about drug dealing, homelessness, garbage and employee safety near redemption sites. The proposal would let stores refuse returns after 8 p.m., allow alternative and potentially mobile nonprofit-run sites, and permit some retailers to stop hand-counting returns earlier. Retailers and waste-picker advocates support the measure, while advocates also want greater scrutiny of more than $30 million in unredeemed deposits retained by the beverage industry’s recycling cooperative. The law remains a major source of income for low-income residents and achieved an estimated 87% container return rate in 2023.

Tufts doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk returned to Boston after spending more than six weeks in a Louisiana immigration detention center. A federal judge ordered her release without travel restrictions, finding that the government had not shown why she was arrested beyond her co-authorship of an op-ed criticizing Tufts’ response to pro-Palestinian activism and the Gaza war. Ozturk’s lawyers argue that her detention, visa revocation and transfer violated her constitutional rights, while government officials allege that her activities undermined U.S. foreign policy and supported Hamas. Her immigration proceedings will continue in Louisiana, while a separate case examines her free-speech and due-process claims.

A vehicle-ramming attack at Vancouver's Lapu Lapu Day festival killed 11 people, including a 5-year-old girl and her parents, and injured 32 others. Police ruled out terrorism and charged driver Kai-Ji Adam Lo with multiple counts of second-degree murder, noting his history of mental illness and prior police interactions. The attack devastated a rapidly growing Filipino community that had gathered to celebrate its culture, but community leaders, businesses and British Columbia officials emphasized mutual support, resilience and the importance of preserving the festival's meaning.

Federal grants supporting state humanities councils have been canceled under the Trump administration, putting America250 programs at risk as communities prepare for the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026. Councils had planned school curricula, library programs, traveling exhibits, lectures, performances and local commemorations, but cuts ranging from hundreds of thousands to $1 million are forcing them into contingency planning or cancellations. The administration has also placed about 80% of National Endowment for the Humanities staff on leave and targeted cultural institutions over diversity, equity and inclusion content. Humanities leaders and historians warn that reduced funding will limit local participation and produce a narrower account of American history.

US consumers accelerated purchases of laptops and vehicles ahead of President Donald Trump's newly announced import tariffs, seeking to avoid expected price increases. Buyers in Texas, Virginia and California described purchasing or leasing before the measures took effect, while dealers reportedly became less willing to honor earlier deals. Economists warned that tariffs could raise everyday costs and weaken economic growth, although the White House argued they could encourage trading partners to open their markets and companies to increase US production.

Oregon and Washington lawmakers are advancing bills that would provide unemployment benefits to striking workers, with Oregon’s proposal also covering public employees. Washington would provide up to 12 weeks of benefits after a two-week waiting period, while Oregon’s bill would begin benefits after two weeks. Supporters argue the measures would give workers, especially low-wage employees, enough financial security to sustain strikes and would have minimal costs because lengthy strikes are uncommon. Business groups and Republican lawmakers oppose the proposals, warning that they could shift bargaining power toward workers and create major expenses for employers and public institutions. The bills have passed their respective state Senates and are moving through the Houses.

A Josephine County judge has temporarily blocked Grants Pass, Oregon, from enforcing most of its camping restrictions unless the city restores sufficient capacity at approved camping sites and makes them accessible to people with disabilities. The injunction followed a lawsuit by Disability Rights Oregon and five homeless residents, who alleged discrimination and violations of Oregon law. The order allows enforcement against camping in sidewalks, streets, alleys and doorways but restricts citations, arrests, fines, campsite removals and bans in most parks. The case follows the U.S. Supreme Court's 2024 decision allowing communities to prohibit outdoor sleeping even without adequate shelter, while Grants Pass's designated sites have faced overcrowding, poor conditions and reduced availability.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the young climate activists’ petition in Juliana v. United States, ending a decade-long effort to bring the federal government to trial over policies supporting a fossil-fuel-based energy system. The case, filed in 2015 by 21 plaintiffs, was repeatedly challenged by the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations, and ultimately dismissed after the Ninth Circuit ruled that climate policy decisions belonged to elected officials rather than courts. The plaintiffs, now aged 17 to 29, continue climate advocacy, while Our Children’s Trust prepares a new federal action based on similar constitutional principles. Other youth-led cases have produced significant results, including a Montana ruling recognizing a constitutional right to a clean environment and a Hawaii settlement requiring zero emissions in the state’s transportation system by 2045. The Oregon litigation has also helped inspire more than 60 youth climate lawsuits internationally.

The growing adoption of electric and fuel-efficient vehicles is reducing gas-tax revenue used to maintain roads and bridges, creating a funding dilemma for states pursuing emissions-reduction goals. California could lose $5 billion in annual gas-tax collections by 2035 under its climate targets, while Oregon faces a projected transportation budget shortfall exceeding $350 million, potentially leading to service cuts and layoffs. States are responding with higher gas taxes, increased electric-vehicle registration fees, taxes on charging stations, redirected general revenues and mileage-based road-user charges. Oregon lawmakers remain divided over new funding options and criticism of the transportation department’s financial management, while Hawaii, Oregon, Utah and Virginia are developing or operating road-usage charging programs.

Universities across the United States are freezing hiring and cutting expenses amid uncertainty over threatened federal funding and reductions to research grants. The Trump administration has targeted funding connected to NIH research, DEI programs, transgender athletes and campus protests, while withdrawing $400 million from Columbia University over alleged failures to combat antisemitism. More than a dozen universities, including Harvard, MIT, Notre Dame and the University of Washington, have announced hiring restrictions. Higher-education leaders warn that further funding withdrawals could damage research and academic operations, while the employment slowdown could weaken broader job growth.