OPB

Shellfish recalled in Oregon, Washington over possible norovirus contamination Washington state’s recall notice issued last week said that the distributors involved had contacted retail establishments and it was likely all shellfish had been consumed.

The Food and Drug Administration is recalling oysters and clams that were harvested in Drayton Harbor, Washington between Feb. 13 and March 3 because they may be contaminated with norovirus.

Deschutes County fires long-serving sheriff’s office captain over radio show appearance It’s not the first time an officer who ran for sheriff later found himself out of a job.

William Bailey, a once-rising star in the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, has been fired.

Nannies, housekeepers and other domestic workers to gain state protections in Washington New protections for domestic workers in Washington will take effect next year under a bill Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Monday.

New protections for domestic workers in Washington will take effect next year under a bill Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Monday.

OPB’s First Look: Judge limits officers’ use of tear gas outside Portland ICE building A judge ordered federal agents to limit use of tear gas and other crowd control weapons on nonviolent demonstrators outside the ICE building in Portland. Here's your First Look at Tuesday's news.

Judge limits use of tear gas and other crowd control weapons outside the Portland ICE building. Portland State to pursue retrenchment. West Linn-Wilsonville voters want to recall their school board. Beavs win. Beavs lose. What we're following on @opb.org today: www.opb.org/article/2026...

Higher ed gets legislative wins, while big K-12 money questions mostly shelved Education bills on immigration, attendance and some emergency funding moved forward, as big school funding questions remain unanswered.

K-12 advocates repeatedly pushed lawmakers this session for more funding and policy improvements to help students. Schools will see some tweaked policies on immigration enforcement and attendance, but the most sweeping goal — to overhaul how the state sets school funding levels statewide — stalled.

After school closure vote, West Linn-Wilsonville school board faces recall The board unanimously voted to close two primary schools in West Linn in December.

West Linn residents have launched an effort to recall all five members of the West Linn-Wilsonville School Board. The recall petition follows the board’s December decision to close two of the district’s nine elementary schools.

Judge limits crowd control devices at Portland ICE building, says federal officers must identify themselves The ruling follows a three-day hearing last week where protesters testified about indiscriminate force outside the Portland ICE facility.

A federal judge in Oregon said he would continue to block federal law enforcement from using tear gas and other chemical crowd control devices on protesters outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland.

Leach Botanical Garden meets short-term fundraising goal The sprawling 17-acre park in outer Southeast Portland was on the brink of closure. Then community support poured in.

A beloved 17-acre park in outer Southeast Portland has raised enough money to stay open through June.

Portland State declares financial crisis, reveals plan to cut or reduce 19 departments Portland State’s announcement Monday lays the groundwork for a process that could result in a massive restructuring of the university.

Portland State University announced it plans to pursue retrenchment, a formal process to downsize the institution, as it faces a mounting financial crisis.

Winter weather alerts along Oregon and Washington Cascades Snow along the Washington and north Oregon Cascades could make travel difficult in the mountain passes through at least Tuesday afternoon.

Winter weather advisories are in effect through Tuesday afternoon along the Cascades in Washington and northern Oregon.

‘The Evergreen’: We go behind the scenes of Oregon’s short legislative session Evergreen producer Julie Sabatier tagged along with OPB politics reporter Lauren Dake just before the session adjourned to hear what it was like in the Capitol building.

Oregon state lawmakers packed a lot into the 2026 short session before it adjourned last week. It’s also been years since lawmakers, lobbyists, the public and the press have worked together in the State Capitol building.

‘Bing’s Cherries’ rewrites the American tall tale through Oregon grower’s life “Bing’s Cherries,” written and illustrated by Taiwanese American authors Livia Blackburne and Julia Kuo, is set for publication on March 10.

Many Americans have heard tales of folk legends Johnny Appleseed and Paul Bunyan. Now, with the publishing of a new book this week, people will also learn of Ah Bing, a larger-than-life horticulturalist who immigrated to Oregon and has a cherry named after him.

Portland arts organizations ask to tap arts tax reserves The nonprofits, which have seen steep city funding cuts, say it’s an emergency.

The request comes after the city reported $8.5 million in unallocated arts tax money — all while arts organizations that receive arts tax money saw a 44% dip in city financing.

OPB’s First Look: Portland Fire smolders as WNBA contract talks continue Ongoing collective bargaining between the WNBA and its players union could hold up the start of the Portland Fire’s first season. Here's your First Look at Monday's news.

WNBA contract negotiations could hold up the start of the Portland Fire's first season. Behind the scenes with OPB politics reporters in Salem. Ah Bing immortalized in children's book. Blazers win. Beavs win. Vikings win. What we're following on @opb.org today: www.opb.org/article/2026...

WNBA and players union need labor deal by March 10 to avoid delay to start of the reignited Portland Fire’s inaugural season May is supposed to mark the WNBA’s return to Portland, but an ongoing contract dispute has put the start of the season in jeopardy.

In the past, expansion teams have had five months or more to acquire players before their inaugural season tips off. The timeline for the Portland Fire and the WNBA's other expansion team, the Toronto Tempo, will be extremely truncated, even if the sides agree on a deal immediately.

Oregon’s sea level forecasts more accurate than many around the globe, scientist says The Cascade Subduction Zone affects where the ocean meets the land, and that land is rising in some parts of the Oregon Coast.

A recent study in the scientific journal Nature says many forecasters are underestimating how much sea level will rise due to climate change in the years ahead.

Winter grain mites are creating havoc in Washington fields An arachnid that looks like a small black spider with reddish legs is causing problems in northern Washington wheat fields.

An arachnid that looks like a small black spider with reddish legs is causing problems in northern Washington wheat fields.

With an economy in flux, more southern Oregon students are choosing hands-on education In the last five years, Oregon’s K-12 schools have opened almost 100 new career and technical education programs.

Interest in career and technical education programs has increased recently. In the last five years, Oregon’s K-12 schools have opened almost 100 new CTE programs.

‘Like beating a dead horse’: Last civil lawsuit against Eugene-based JH Baxter dismissed The last of two lawsuits filed against the now-defunct company was resolved Friday. No damages were awarded and plaintiffs have no opportunity to refile litigation related to its shuttered plant in Eugene's Bethel area.

Judge Mustafa Kasubhai of the U.S. District Court of Oregon granted a motion to dismiss Hart et al v. J.H. Baxter et al with prejudice at the request of the plaintiffs and their attorneys.

How an Ashland school trains bike mechanics for a changing industry For more than 40 years, people have traveled from around the country to this school for bike mechanics.

United Bicycle Institute has attracted students from around the country since opening in 1981. Currently, it’s the only stand-alone program offering certified training for bike mechanics in the U.S. People might come to begin a career or for a refresher after years working at a bike shop.

The Eugene Gleemen celebrate 100 years of performing ‘for the sheer joy of singing’ On Tuesday evenings in St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Eugene, men fill the front five rows of the nave. Usually, people gather here to pray. But tonight, these men are here to sing.

Over 50 men make up The Eugene Gleemen, an all-male chorus that’s been an institution in the area for a century.

Oregon lawmakers pass new notification rules for schools when ICE comes on campus Oregon lawmakers have approved a bill that would require schools to provide notice when ICE officers are spotted on campus.

Under HB 4079, school districts would need to develop a policy to identify when federal immigration officers are on school property—and then inform parents, staff, some students, and some service providers about those sightings.

San Francisco beats Portland in West Coast Conference Tournament 82-65 David Fuchs had 23 points in No. 5 seed San Francisco’s 82-65 win over ninth-seeded Portland on Saturday night in the third round of the West Coast Conference Tournament.

Joel Foxwell led the Pilots (15-19) in scoring, finishing with 16 points and six assists. Jermaine Ballisager Webb added 11 points for Portland. Cameron Williams also had nine points.

Whitecaps beat the Timbers 4-1 in a Cascadia Cup rivalry match Brian White scored twice and the Vancouver Whitecaps beat the rival Portland Timbers 4-1 on Saturday night in a Cascadia cup rivalry match.

Eighteen-year-old Eric Izoita, called up from Timbers II earlier in the day, scored in his debut for Portland.

As Iranians in Portland hope for a free Iran, other protesters call for speedy US exit Protesters took to Portland streets on Saturday saying they want better lives for people in Iran – but the two groups that rallied midday in the city had very different views of how to get there.

Protesters took to the Portland streets on Saturday, saying they want better lives for people in Iran – but the two groups that rallied midday in the city had very different views of how to get there.

‘Terrifying’ and ‘truly bothered:’ Lawmakers hear about impacts of PeaceHealth ED changes Two members of Eugene Emergency Physicians went before an Oregon Senate Committee in Salem on Thursday to address issues related to emergency department staffing changes in Lane County.

Two members of Eugene Emergency Physicians went before an Oregon Senate Committee in Salem on Thursday to address issues related to emergency department staffing changes in Lane County.

Data center tax break close to getting zapped by Washington Legislature A bill to end a sales tax exemption for replacing computer equipment used in the facilities cleared a key committee vote Saturday.

Tax breaks for data center operators could soon be stripped from Washington state law. On Saturday, the House Finance Committee voted 8 to 6 to approve Senate Bill 6231. The bill next awaits a House floor vote.

Oregon lawmakers reject state investment in the upcycling of fish processing scraps Oregon lawmakers have rejected funding for a program that supporters said would help the state’s fishing industry.

Oregon lawmakers have rejected funding for a program that supporters said would help the state’s fishing industry.

A wedding proposal and a promotion honored an Astoria-based Coast Guardsman before he died of injuries from mission Tyler Jaggers died Thursday evening after being injured while on a medical evacuation mission off the Washington coast.

Before he passed away, two poignant ceremonies were held on his behalf: His partner posted on social media that she had accepted a hospital-room wedding proposal carried out by his family. And the Coast Guard awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Last deadline of Washington legislative session kills more bills With less than a week to go, policy proposals are nearing the finish line to becoming law in the Washington Legislature. But the last deadline of the legislative session Friday stopped some of them in their tracks.

The legislative session ends next Thursday. Gov. Bob Ferguson is expected to begin signing measures into law early next week.