CORVALLIS, OR -- Sunday's announcement that President Biden would withdraw from his re-election campaign was one for the history books. Pundits have used the word "unprecedented" to describe Biden's decision. But academics say that's only partially true. 

In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson withdrew from his re-election campaign, "But he did so on March 31 of 1968, so there was a lot more time to have other candidates come in and run in the primaries," says David Bernell, an Associate Professor at Oregon State University's School of Public Policy. Johnson backed out after winning the New Hampshire Primary, but Bernell says the small margin proved he'd lost the support of voters. 

Biden's announcement comes less than four months before the General Election, "So, it's an incredibly short time period in order to figure out what to do in this time. So in that sense, it really is unprecedented in this modern era, where over the last 50 years, we have used primaries to determine the nominee."

It was also a different time in America. The nation was divided over the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. "In April of that year, Martin Luther King was assassinated," says Bernell, "And in June of that year, Robert F Kennedy - who was running for President to succeed LBJ - was assassinated." That led to a contentious Democratic convention in Chicago and an eventual election loss for the party. 

Bernell says the swift elevation of Vice President Kamala Harris may have been an attempt by Democrats to avoid a similar drawn out fight, this time. "That just wasn't going to serve the party well. They had just spent the last three or four weeks arguing among themselves about, 'What should be the fate of President Biden? Should he run again or not?'" He notes a Harris campaign also forces Republicans to adjust, "The question of age and 'two old men running for President,' that a lot people said they didn't want either of them on the ticket, now the whole dynamic has changed. So this really upset everything."

But Bernell says nothing is official until the Democrats' convention in late August, again in Chicago. 

Listen to our full conversation with Assoc. Professor David Bernell:

PORTLAND, OR -- Oregon is getting one of 25 federal grants to reduce carbon emissions. EPA Regional Administrator Casey Sixkiller announced the state's nearly $200 million award Monday in Portland, "A truly historic investment by the United State Environmental Protection Agency in supporting efforts on the ground, here in the state of Oregon that recognizes the role the state of Oregon plays as a leader, not just here in the Pacific Northwest, but around the country, in curbing carbon emissions and working to address climate change that so many of our communities are facing today."

Sixkiller says the Oregon secured the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant with a strong proposal, "Oregon's plan to invest in building de-carbonization, electric vehicle incentives and infrastructure, and other scalable approaches will be a guide to other states and regions as they seek to implement strategies that truly make a difference."

Leah Feldon, Director of Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality, says the money will be used to substantially decrease greenhouse gas emissions, "With this funding, Oregon is focused on three categories of work that are among the largest contributors to Oregon's greenhouse gas emissions: waste and materials, buildings and transportation." Oregon Housing and Community Services will receive $11 million of the award, to increase energy efficiencies in affordable housing. OHCS officials say it will help decrease utility bills for low-income families.

Governor Tina Kotek says the investment affirms the work the state is already doing to fight climate change. "These new dollars from the federal government, through the Inflation Reduction Act, will accelerate our ability to do more with the effective programs that are already on the ground, here in Oregon." She went on to say, "This work will go hand in hand with our forthcoming energy strategy, our future comprehensive climate action plan and our state environmental justice mapping tool," adding, "Mitigating climate change by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions requires enormous effort and prioritization of our resources. And to meet the ambitious climate reduction goals we have set, we have to make sure these resources are accessible to all communities around our state."

The EPA received more than 300 applications for Climate Pollution Reduction Grant, doling out $4.3 billion to 25 recipients. 

(Portland, OR) -- Members of a Portland church are looking for a temporary space to hold services after their building was vandalized this past weekend.  Leaders at Bethel Baptist Church of Saint Johns say someone broke into the building and sprayed fire extinguishers all over three floors of the property.  Secretary Mary Brown says she also had a hard time filing a police report after no one called back from 311 and she wasn't able to complete it online.  She adds that it is not the first time the church has been burglarized.

(Portland, OR) -- The Portland Police Bureau is taking steps to crack down on gun violence near Dawson Park.  Authorities say they are increasing vehicle patrols in the North Portland neighborhood and launching a new bike patrol in the area soon.  Two people were injured last Friday afternoon when gunfire erupted at the park, a shooting Mayor Ted Wheeler has referred to as "senseless".  Police say three people were arrested on Saturday, but they are still searching for suspects.

(Hillsboro, OR) -- The issue of fluoride in the public water supply is making its way back onto the ballot in Hillsboro this fall.  The local city council has approved a measure that will allow voters to tell the city water department whether they want the chemical added.  Advocates say fluoride can help prevent tooth decay and adding it to the water supply is particularly helpful for children from low-income families and marginalized groups who may not have access to adequate dental care.  Opponents say it may have unnecessary health risks.  Voters in Portland have turned down four separate water fluoridation proposals in the past, remaining the largest U.S. city without the chemical in the municipal water system.

(Milwaukie, OR) -- The Milwaukie Police Department is bringing a new K-9 officer onto the force.  Officials are introducing Flora, a two-year-old lab and golden retriever mix who has a number of trained skills.  The department says Flora can sniff out electronic devices during criminal investigations, even outdoors and in deep, moving water.  Flora has also been trained as an emotional support dog and she will be able to offer comfort to people in the community at times, according to police.

(Portland, OR) -- The list of industries impacted by last week's CrowdStrike software issue continues to grow.  Representatives with Bloodworks Northwest say they missed out on hundreds of donations last Friday due to the software problem.  Their computer system that registers donations was not functioning for hours until their IT department was able to restore it, according to a spokesperson.  To make matters worse, blood centers typically see a significant donation slowdown in the summer, making this a critical time of year, according to the organization.  

(Portland, OR) -- A Portland resident accused of firing gunshots inside his apartment has pleaded not guilty to charges.  Investigators say that 29-year-old David Peer threw furniture out of windows, tried to set his home on fire and fired a gun multiple times this past Friday inside his apartment near 42nd and Cully.  One neighbor was nearly hit by the gunfire.  Peer appeared in court yesterday.
 

(Portland, OR) -- The Portland Police Bureau is reporting results from a recent human trafficking mission.  Six individuals were arrested or charged with solicitation- or prostitution-related charges in the July 18th mission along Northeast 82nd Avenue.  Two others were arrested on other charges.

(Portland, OH)  --  Gas prices have taken a dip this week in Portland.  Triple-A reports the average price of a gallon of regular fuel locally is now four-dollars-and-8-cents.  That's down four-cents from a week ago.  The average cost of a gallon of regular fuel in Oregon is three-dollars-and-95-cents.

(Portland, OR) -- Allstate insurance is out with its annual Best Drivers Report.  The company examined available information on different driving behaviors including phone handling, high-speed driving and hard braking in the country's 100 most-populous urban areas to find the cities with the safest drivers.  Portland came in at number 4 on the list with Honolulu at number one.

PORTLAND, OR -- The U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary is in Oregon this week, for a national VA and Department of Defense Suicide Prevention Conference. Around 2400 mental health experts and veterans advocates are meeting through Thursday at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. This is the first time the biennial conference has come to Oregon. "This is the largest ever gathering of VA and Department of Defense mental health professionals to focus on this crisis of active duty and veteran suicide," says VA Secretary Denis McDonough. "It's not a mistake that we're doing it here in Oregon, which is a state with a higher rate of veteran suicide."

He has one primary message for vets, "It is not weakness but strength to get care." McDonough says some people don't ask for help because of the stigma, but others still don't know help is available from the VA for free. With the new Compact Act, veterans have more access to emergency suicide care, "Whether you are an enrolled veteran at VA, or whether you are not enrolled at VA, you can go to any hospital - VA hospital, public hospital, private hospital, any hospital in the country, and you will get that care and we will pay for that care." An estimated 50,000 vets have utilized that expanded benefit. 

McDonough says there's now a concerted effort to reach a specific group of vets, "To our Vietnam veterans who are not yet enrolled at VA, here's one thing I want you to know: We're going to be contacting you over the course of these next several weeks, by email, by phone call and by text. And we're going to do that for a simple reason: We want a relationship with you. We want you to come get care with VA." He says they may be eligible for expanded health services through the PACT Act. 
The Veterans Crisis Line connected with the 988 Crisis Line two years ago. Since then, McDonough says around two-million vets have called to receive help. "So, please, if you are in crisis, if there's a veteran in your family who is in crisis, dial 988 and press one," Secretary McDonough says, "Veterans in crisis, we can beat this crisis. You can beat this crisis. And we're here for you, because veteran suicide is preventable."

(Salem, OR) -- Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared an extended state of emergency due to the imminent threat of fire in the state through October first. The declaration clears the way for more state resources to respond faster to the escalating threat.

Three major human-caused fires are burning in the state. The Cow Valley Fire, south of Baker City, has burned 132,528 acres as of Monday morning. The Falls Fire, northwest of Burns, is estimated at 64,225 acres. Near Dufur, Tthe Larch Creek Fire has burned 18,684 acres and is 8% contained.

PORTLAND, OR --  Interstate 84 is reopened in Portland, following a massive clean-up effort. The freeway closed between I-5 and I-205 for 13 hours over the weekend while crews removed graffiti and garbage.  Workers from ODOT, PBOT, Metro, Multnomah County, TriMet and Union Pacific worked together on the project.  

"Well over 150 people actively working out here in this five-mile stretch," says Oregon Department of Transportation Director Kris Strickler. In addition to vandalism repairs, ODOT took advantage of the closure to conduct other maintenance, "We've been doing drainage work, landscape work and other things that wouldn't be accessible to us without a closure like this." They also replaced around 40 signs, "Next time you come through the corridor, you'll see many new signs, you'll see things that are quite a bit different. And you'll see that cleanup effort really coming to fruition."

Strickler says it's a project that began in the spring, after the Legislature approved $20 million for a broader clean-up effort, "Since April, a little over 36,000 pounds of trash have been removed from Oregon freeways- or Portland freeways, I should say. Almost 29,000, or individual paint-over tags throughout the entire Portland region."

Governor Tina Kotek pushed for the additional funding to address what she called an important livability issue, "If you're coming in from the airport into our beautiful city, whether you're on the MAX or driving in, how this looks and feels is really important to how people feel about their communities." She told reporters Sunday, "Do we solve everything in one foul swoop, in one weekend? No. Do we make significant progress? Absolutely. So, when folks are back on these roads, they're going to see it cleaner, they're going to see things picked up."

Strickler acknowledges they can't prevent future vandalism but says ODOT is committed to getting a better handle on it, "There will be some that comes back, certainly. And our efforts are to continue to attack that problem, because that problem is a societal problem for all Oregonians. And everyone's experiencing the impact of that. And while I can't guarantee you that it won't come back in near term, I can guarantee that it won't be as bad as it has been."

TriMet and Union Pacific also cleaned up areas around their rail lines during the closure.

Photos:

(top left) Crews paint over graffiti along the I-84 corridor in northeast Portland; courtesy of ODOT.

(upper right) Gov. Kotek and agency leaders address reporters Sunday, during the closure.

(above center) The Banfield Freeway sits empty Sunday morning, 07/14/24, as crews clean up the area.

NEWPORT, OR -- The Oregon Coast Aquarium has proposed a new license plate to help support marine wildlife rehabilitation. "What that support looks like is feeding animals that are currently in rehab at the aquarium, or providing medical equipment for a future marine rehab center," says the aquarium's Courtney Klug, "Essentially, these plates support both the aquarium's animals in our current collection and those who come in in need of veterinary care."

The plate was designed by an in-house artist at the Newport facility; it features a tufted puffin diving into the water. "It's a seabird summer at the Oregon Coast Aquarium," says Klug. 

Why a puffin plate? "Why not a puffin?!" says Klug, "The tufted puffin is an iconic seabird. They are native to Oregon's coast and we have our own flock here at OCAq. Our puffins are one of the most memorable species at the aquarium." She says visitors adore the puffins, "They often say, 'I got so close to a puffin it splashed me.' And we just love how whimsical and fun they are. And they're surprisingly graceful, so it's wonderful to give people a peek into what these birds look like in their natural element."

And Klug says issuing a license plate to raise money for the aquarium is a great way to raise awareness, "A license plate, it stays topical. It's an ongoing source of funding, and we need that ongoing funding." She adds, "A license plate is one of those things that people continue to see it everywhere. A coastal local could get a puffin license plate, drive across the state and other people will say, 'oh! Look at that, it's interesting.' And it is. It's a puffin. What's more interesting than a puffin?" 

The aquarium needs to sell 3,000 vouchers to get the plate into production. The vouchers became available this week and Klug says more than 400 were sold in the first 24 hours. Once they hit 3,000, it'll take several months for them to be available at the DMV. 

ASTORIA, OR -- 911 dispatchers in one Oregon city have a new four-legged co-worker. She's toy-driven and house-trained. "Having the dog around, I’ve seen an amazing turn in the staff," says Astoria Police Chief Stacy Kelly, "Everybody’s upbeat. They’ve all embraced this." Five-year-old foster dog Kalani now lives at the 24-hour dispatch center. 

He says the goal is to help Kalani find a forever family, while providing emotional support to staff in a stressful workplace, "Even though these aren’t certified emotional support animals, there are studies out there that show how much better a work environment is with pets here." It also could lead to better physical health for employees. Kelly says dispatchers sit a lot, sometimes working through breaks, "But now that the dog’s here, they can take it out. We’re right here, a block away from the Riverwalk. So I see the dispatchers all the time going out, taking the dog on a walk, just getting some fresh air." And dispatchers aren't the only ones, "They’re in the same office here with us, and the police officers are also taking her out on a walk," says Kelly. Those walks also introduce her to the public, "We’ve had four people so far that are interested in her, and we’ve just had her since Friday."

Kalani spent a year living in a Utah shelter before coming to Astoria through an agreement with Clatsop Animal Assistance. Chief Kelly says she was pretty timid when she arrived, "Now, every time I turn around, she’s walking in my office. She makes the rounds through all the offices. She’ll go in and see everybody. She’s social but not cuddly. So, she’ll come up and just look at you, then turn around and walk off and maybe take a pet or two. It’s just neat having her." He says after Kalani is adopted, he'll consult with staff to make sure everyone agrees before accepting another foster animal. 

The idea to partner with the local animal shelter is the brainchild of senior dispatcher Jodie Frost. She hopes other jurisdictions will follow, "It’s a win-win for everybody all around: the dog, us."

PORTLAND, OR -- For many, fireworks are a necessary part of any July Fourth celebration. But the loud explosions are tough for some people, "They very much resemble the sights and sounds of combat, of gunfire and of explosions," says Dr. Mikel Matto, a clinical psychiatrist at OHSU, "So, a lot of people with PTSD, these fireworks can really flood them with fear and sensations like a racing heart and sweatiness." He says it makes the holiday particularly difficult for veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, "One of the problems with PTSD is that when a person is exposed to sights or sounds that resemble a traumatic experience, like combat, that exposure can trigger unwanted memories."

It leads to a complicated relationship between veterans and Independence Day. "Many of these veterans are proud of their service and patriotic by nature. But the fireworks of the Fourth of July is what causes so many of them to have to stay away from these celebrations," says Dr. Matto, "And they miss out on a holiday that really should be honoring them, in a way."

He says people with PTSD should maintain their mental healthcare routine during this time, and avoid visiting places with loud noises, like commercial fireworks shows, "There’s a set day and time that they occur at a specific place. I think those are easier for people with PTSD to accommodate, because there’s a place they shouldn’t go at a time they shouldn’t go, and they can sort of get through that short period of time." But, he says, neighbors and friends can also help, "We can avoid using those fireworks in areas that are unexpected. If it’s around a particular show, that’s fine. But not to do it in the middle of the night on your street, or not to do it in areas that are unadvertised."

Dr. Matto is encouraged by a shift in recent years to alternative celebrations, "Now, a lot of people are celebrating Fourth of July at city or county-sanctioned events, like drone shows or lasers or other visual spectacles where we can get together and celebrate, that aren’t so triggering for people." 

ASTORIA, OR -- The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned a new Fast Response Cutter, stationed in Astoria. The “David Duren” is the first of its kind in the Pacific Northwest.

It replaces previous cutters, built in the 1980s, that were around 110' long. "This one is 154’ long, with an average crew of about 20-24 people. They have a little bit longer endurance, but they also have the strength and the speed, overall, to get out faster," says USCG Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier. It's also outfitted with the latest tech, "The newest technologically advanced ship in the Coast Guard’s fleet. It can do things quicker and more efficiently than cutters in the past that were stationed here." Strohmaier adds, "It’s going to enable them to look further out, see different contacts, use different radios. There’s a whole slew of technological advancements since the cutters that were previously out here." 

The Coast Guard recently decommissioned two older vessels in Astoria, making room for the David Durn, and eventually two more. "Not only did the housing and area have availability for Coast Guard members to move in, but it’s a great logistics port and centrally located throughout the Pacific Northwest." Strohmaier says Astoria is an ideal location for the new vessel, "Because they’ll be patrolling Oregon and the coasts of Oregon, and then as well Washington and into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound." He tells the Oregon Radio News Network, "This cutter can go up the Columbia River as needed, as well."

Primarily, the new Fast Response Cutter will be used for fishery patrols, coastal and port security, and drug investigations. But it can also respond to search and rescue missions, "They have obviously a better fuel range than our small boat station. So, if there’s a disabled vessel or an overturned vessel, or somebody that’s in a life raft that's over 100 miles or more offshore, this could be an asset to use."

It’s the 56th fast response cutter in the U.S. Coast Guard fleet. The others are stationed in Alaska, California, along the east coast, and internationally in Guam and Bahrain. A total of 65 are being built. 

Coast Guard Cutter David Duren (WPC 1156) transits near the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse as it enters the Columbia River near Astoria, Ore., for the first time on May 20, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

(Salem, OR)  --  Reports to Oregon's Bias Response Hotline increased 229 percent from 2020 through 2023.  The Oregon Department of Justice says this is the fifth year for the hotline, and the number calls increases along with awareness of the program.  The number of bias crime and non-criminal bias incidents increased from 910 in 2020 to two-thousand-932 in 2023.  The Department of Justice launched the "You Belong" campaign this year to make people aware of the hotline.

(Minneapolis, MN)  --  Oregon State University gymnast Jade Carey has qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team.  Carey secured a fourth-place finish Sunday night at the 2024 Olympic Gymnastic Trials in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  She will join Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Hezly Rivera at the 2024 Paris Olympics.  This is Carey's second Olympic appearance.  She previously competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

(Salem, OR)  --  Hot weather is forecast across Oregon and the State Fire Marshal is worried fireworks will spark fires.  Many cities and counties have tighter restrictions than state law allows for fireworks.  If you are allowed to use fireworks, have water available, use them on a non-flammable surface with a large perimeter, and place used or dud fireworks in a bucket of water for 15 to 20 minutes.  Oregon law prohibits fireworks that fly in the air, move more than 12-feet on the ground, or explode.

(Portland, OR)  --  Two teenage boys killed in a crash last week have been identified by their school.  On June 25th, Gresham Police tried to stop a stolen car.  The driver didn't stop and sped away crashing into another car and a utility pole near Southeast 139th and Division in Portland.  Police haven't identified the teens killed in the crash, but the principal at Ida B. Wells High School told students that Dylan Brasky and Jayden Rolon-Ekis were killed.  Cole Johnson, a recent Wells graduate, was injured.  The woman in the car that was hit was also hospitalized. 

(West Linn, OR)  --  An armed bank robbery suspect was arrested in Tigard after a police pursuit.  The suspect is accused of robbing the Key Bank in West Linn.  On Monday, the suspect was armed with a large knife when he jumped over the counter and grabbed cash from drawers at each of the teller stations.  When he grabbed the money, he also grabbed a tracker embedded in the money.  Police used that to follow him to Tigard where there was a short vehicle pursuit, and the suspect was taken into custody.  He's charged with robbery, reckless driving, and eluding a police officer.

(Jacksonville, OR)  --  Jacksonville, in southern Oregon, has made HGTV's list of the 50 Most Charming Small Towns In America.  Jacksonville is the gateway to the Applegate Valley Wine Trail.  The town holds the Britt Music & Arts Festival, which is considered to be one of the Northwest's premier outdoor summer performing arts events.  And the town is loaded with independently owned shops and restaurants.  Jacksonville has been called one of America's 10 "coolest small towns."

(Makawao, HI)  --  An Oregon man will spend nearly a decade behind bars for his role in a drug trafficking scheme that went through Hawaii.  Isaac Kitashima has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison followed by five years on supervised release.  The 48-year-old lives in Oregon but had a property in Makawao.  In 2021, authorities found guns and 20 pounds of meth at that residence.  An investigation revealed Kitashima and others were operating in Hawaii, Oregon, and California.  

(Happy Valley, OR)  --  The City of Happy Valley is offering a fireworks amnesty program.  People who bought illegal fireworks can turn them in, no questions asked, July 1st through the 3rd at the Happy Valley Community Policing Center.  Fireworks can be dropped off in a special receptacle.  Happy Valley has a zero-tolerance policy for illegal fireworks.  A one-thousand-dollar citation can be issued along with potential criminal charges for using illegal fireworks within the city limits.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Oregon Health Plan is offering a new program to bridge health care coverage for people who can't afford health insurance, because they make more than the allowed amounts.  OHP Bridge will provide coverage for adults who have gone without coverage at higher rates, more than any other income group in the state.  OHP Bridge doesn't have monthly premiums, no copays or deductibles for covered services.  The program will eventually cover 100,000 people.