(Portland, OR)  --  The TriMet Board has approved a new four-year contract with operators.  They get a four percent wage increase and then three percent each of the following years.  TriMet will also increase its contribution to retirement plans by one percent this year and one person in the fourth year.  They can also get tuition reimbursement up to five-thousand-250 dollars a year,  new child care subsidy up to 150-dollars a month, and two additional floating holidays. 

(Newport, OR)  --  A Newport teenager has been arrested in connection to an online threat.  Newport Police started getting calls on Tuesday about a post on Snapchat that appeared to imply a school shooting might happen.  Police identified the 14-year-old as a student from Newport High School.  The investigation found the threat had no validity and there wasn't an active threat.  Because of the concern it caused in the community, police arrested the teen who was charged with Disorderly Conduct.

(Portland, OR)  --  A man who was accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a developmentally delayed woman in Portland has been released by the judge.  Robert Bryant was arrested on September 16th after the 22-year-old woman was kidnapped and sexually assaulted.  Bryant's attorneys applied for a conditional release that was opposed by prosecutors based on grounds it was a felony charge.  The judge released Bryant on the conditions that he does not have contact with the specific victim, stays away from her housing, reports to Pretrial Release, and shops at a specific grocery store.  His next court date is September 25th.

(Portland, OR)  --  Work will soon get underway to return the Elk statute to downtown Portland.  The Thompson Fountain and the bronze Elk statue were damaged during the 2020 riots.  Cedar Mill Construction had to show it has the ability to recreate the artwork from the original fountain that created the base for the statue.  The granite for the fountain will come the same quarry in Vermont that supplied the original granite.  The work will cost one-point-eight million dollars and could be complete as soon as next year.

(Undated)  --  Boeing and its largest union say contract talks will resume Friday.  The news comes almost two weeks after more than 32-thousand workers in the Seattle area and Portland, Oregon walked off the job.  The strike by the machinists union is its first since 2008.  The walkout has halted production of airplane models, including the 737 MAX, Boeing's best seller.  Earlier this week, Boeing presented the union what it called its best and final offer.  It's said to include a 30-percent raise over four years and restores a performance bonus.  

(Camas, WA)  --  Camas Police arrested a man following an incident involving guns outside Skyridge Middle School on Tuesday.  Police say an 11-year-old held two guns and a knife while inside of a truck.  They don't believe there was a public safety risk.  Officers secured the guns and 50-year-old Kurt Hall cooperated with the investigation.  He was arrested for Community Endangerment Due to Unsafe Storage of a Firearm.  The juvenile prosecuting attorney will determine whether the 11-year-old is charged.

(Astoria, OR)  --  Police in Astoria are investigating a double fatal shooting.  They were called to the Bayshore Apartments Wednesday morning when a maintenance worker found two people who had been shot.  A man and woman died at the scene.  Investigators say they were married, and it appears the husband killed his wife and then shot himself.

(Tigard, OR)  --  A man is charged with manslaughter in connection with a fatal overdose in Tigard.  On September 12th, police were called to a motel on Pacific Highway where paramedics used Narcan and CPR on a man who later died at a hospital.  He was identified as 42-year-old Ryan Hackett.  Investigators identified 31-year-old Timothy Donovan as the person who provided Hackett with fentanyl.  A Washington County grand jury indicted Donovan for manslaughter and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.

(Portland, OR)  --  This is National Drive Electric Week and Pacific Power is organizing an event at Lloyd Center Tower to help residents learn more about electric vehicles.  They'll have the latest in electric vehicle technology, you can talk with current EV drivers, and get first hand insights into the electric vehicle experience.  The event will be held today from 10:30 a.m. through 1:30 p.m. at the Lloyd Center Tower.

PORTLAND, OR -- Wednesday's announcement of a new WNBA team in Portland was met with a big party at the Moda Center, complete with a shower of streamers and dignitaries from the political and sports world. 

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert opened the celebration with the statement some have waited for, for years, "I am honored to officially announce that we have awarded Portland the 15th WNBA franchise." She added, "It has been more than two decades since this city has been  home to a WNBA team, and bringing the WNBA back to Portland is a natural fit." Engelbert says Portland has a lot to offer the league, "Not only does this city support women's sports, but basketball is also in Portland's blood. This is the latest milestone in Portland's rich history of iconic basketball moments." She went on to tell the crowd, "More than anything, this is a celebration of women's sports and of the continued growth of our league. And the growth has been exponential in recent years. It seems to me, Portland has become an epicenter of women's sports."

The new owners are the Bhathal family, a pair of siblings who purchased the Portland Thorns women's soccer team earlier this year. They said the new basketball's team name will be determined, in part, by community feedback.

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, who invited Engelbert to Portland last year, praised the move as an economic boon for the city and the state. And Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler thanked her, "For having confidence in our city, being strategic about your vision for the WNBA, and recognizing that Portland is an extraordinary sports city." Wheeler also thanked the new owhers - the Bhathal family and everyone else who helped make the team a reality, "We are the global center of women's professional sports. And I want to be clear that that is something we want to lean into."

Attending Wednesday's announcement were city and state officials, business leaders, student athletes and WNBA alumni like Kym Hampton, who now live in Portland. Hampton played for New York in the WNBA's inaugural season. She told the crowd, "In women's sports, we've always had it a little bit more difficult than the guys, right? I mean, it was kind of difficult to propel change, and to sell out seats in the arenas and to up viewership numbers." Now, the league sells out games all over the country. 

The new Portland team tips off in 2026. 

photo: WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert welcomes a crowd of supporters to the Moda Center, Wednesday, September 18, 2024

SALEM, OR -- Oregon launched a new Be 2 Weeks Ready toolkit as part of Preparedness Month, to encourage people to be ready for any disaster.

Oregon Department of Emergency Management's Kayla Thompson acknowledges it's scary to consider needing to shelter in place or evacuate. But, she says, "I want people to feel empowered and not frightened."

The new online toolkit provides short- and long-term goals, like stocking up on favorite shelf-stable foods and water. Thompson says, "It can feel overwhelming to take all those steps and gather the supplies. But, you're likely more prepared than you think." And, there are steps to take now that cost nothing, "We encourage folks to read the Be 2 Weeks Ready toolkit, start talking to their family, learn their local hazards. Do they live in a wildfire area? Are they more prone to ice storms?" She adds, "Situational awareness is really important, so just being signed up for alerts and knowing what could potentially happen in your area. And then, when you're not in that season, wildfire season or ice storm season, being able to take steps towards your preparedness."

Thompson says planning the toolkit began as part of the state's preparation for a large earthquake, "In the event that they are stuck in their home, so they can be self-sufficient, because response from first responders will be delayed. But everything in there also applies to - we talk about the go bag; that applies during wildfire season. Having to shelter in place; that applies to the ice storm season. Having that extra water supply; maybe your area gets put on a boil water notice."  She notes, "The inspiration for the Be 2 Weeks Ready program was the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. But everything in that toolkit- it applies to any sort of disaster." 

Click HERE to access the new toolkit. Thompson says this is a good time to evaluate if you and your family are prepared, since fire season is winding down and winter storm season is right around the corner. 

PORTLAND, OR -- After years of work by government officials and Portland businesses, the WNBA has awarded Portland the league’s 15th franchise. Governor Tina Kotek made the announcement Wednesday morning, saying, "This is a big deal for Oregon, for the city of Portland and for athletes and fans of women's sports everywhere." She congratulated everyone who helped make the new team a reality. Kotek's full statement is below.

Wyden and Oregon business and sports leaders hosted a visit by the WNBA Commissioner in February 2023. But the league later awarded a team to Golden State, tamping down hopes of a Portland team. 

The new team is expected to tip off in 2026. Portland’s last WNBA team folded about 20 years ago.

(Salem, OR)  --  Police have another arrest in connection with an ongoing mail theft investigation in the Salem area.  On Monday, Salem Felony Crimes Unit detectives arrested 31-year-old Ashley Wood on several charges, while serving a warrant at a West Salem apartment.  A search of the home and property uncovered stolen mail belonging to well over 200 people and numerous other pieces of evidence related to mail theft and forgery.  Two men at the apartment were also arrested, on outstanding warrants.

(Oregon City, OR)  --  Clackamas County's EMS system is overwhelmed with requests for service.  Now, the county is partnering with American Medical Response, launching an innovative new Nurse Navigation Program to ease the burden.  Licensed nurses will triage calls, connect Clackamas County residents to local clinics and arrange transportation, or connect them directly to telehealth physicians for online care.  It's a free service.  The goal is more appropriate care, leaving ambulances to respond to life-threatening emergencies.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland General Electric is moving forward with several renewable energy projects.  They include solar, lithium-ion battery storage, and hybrid, such as solar power storage projects.  They're all located within Oregon and would generate up to 17-hundred megawatts of electricity.  PGE says it's working to decarbonize its energy portfolio while maintaining safety, reliability, and keeping prices as low as possible.  They declined proposals for projects totaling one-thousand megawatts of electricity, because they weren't cost effective.  They'll start considering new projects on an accelerated timeline.

(Hood River, OR)  --  Restrictions on campfires in the Columbia River Gorge are being lifted today.  The U.S. Forest Service says cooler weather has reduced fire danger and they're removing Public Use Restrictions that affected campfires, smoking and other activities.  Conditions are still dry and they encourage you to use caution with campfires and cigarettes.  Don't park vehicles with hot mufflers on tall, dry grass and make sure trailer safety chains aren't dragging and causing sparks. 
 

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland Fire & Rescue had a difficult time reaching a brush fire in North Portland Monday morning.  The fire was located along railroad tracks in the area known as "The Cut."  It's where North Fessenden [[ FESS'-en-den ]] crosses over the tracks.  A pile of railroad ties were on fire.  The flames spread to a nearby wooded area.  There are no roads near the tracks, so firefighters used ATVs to get hoses to the fire.  It was stopped before it could spread significantly.
 

(Vancouver, WA)  --  The Clark County Medical Examiner confirms the death of a toddler earlier this year in Vancouver was caused by fentanyl.  Ruth Richards died March 25th.  She was 21-months-old.  The child's mother, Katherine Richards, has been charged with manslaughter.  Court records show, Richards found the girl dead in a crib.  Officers say they found drug paraphernalia and crystal meth in the basement of the home.  Richards pleaded not guilty in court last week.

(Portland, OR)  --  Portland State University is receiving nearly a million dollars to create a Transportation Decarbonization Resource Hub.  It will analyze micro-mobility devices including e-scooters and bikes.  It'll review safety regulations from the federal and state governments.  Assess new information from police, hospital, and industry data to improve research.  Interview stakeholders and make recommendations to local and state leaders on infrastructure, policy and technology.  Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley along with Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici helped secure the money. 

(Salt Lake City, UT)  --  Passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight this week are recovering after a cabin pressure issue caused bloody noses and ears. A Delta spokesperson apologized to customers on the flight from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Portland, Oregon. They were put on another aircraft and technicians fixed the pressurization issue on the plane where the incident took place. The FAA will investigate the matter.

(Troutdale, OR)  --  The Stark Street Bridge over the Sandy River, near Troutdale, has been closed.  A supporting stone wall partially collapsed.  Engineers are assessing damage and will determine what repairs are needed.  The Stark Street Bridge was built in 1914.  It connects Troutdale to the Crown Point Highway.

SALEM, OR -- Following media reports that the Oregon DMV registered around 300 non-U.S citizens to vote, the Secretary of State ordered updates to impacted voter registrations. Several lawmakers on both sides of the aisle called for a full investigation after Willamette Week uncovered mistakes with Oregon’s Motor Voter system. 

Secretary Lavonne Griffin-Valade issued a statement saying an internal audit determined 0.01% of registrations were in error. Of those, two people have an actual voting history and none will receive a ballot in the upcoming election.

She says the mistake occurred when DMV staff mis-identified the type of documentation presented by the person requesting a new driver's license or state ID.

SALEM, OR -- As fire restrictions drop in some parts of the coast and Willamette Valley, Oregon State Parks officials ask visitors who plan to use firewood to "buy where you burn," to slow the spread of a devastating bug.  

"They only fly five to 10 miles on their own. But, they're really good at hitchhiking." State Parks Central Forester Nick Morris is talking about  the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive species that could devestate Oregon's native ash trees. 

Stefanie Knowlton, with Oregon Parks and Recreation, says the EAB's preferred mode of hitchhiking is firewood, "You can imagine, if somebody puts firewood in the back of their truck and they haul it a couple hundred miles away to a campsite, they've brought it to a whole nother area of the state." Instead, she asks State Park visitors who plan to use firewood to, "Either buy it within 10 miles of their destination, or buy heat-treated wood. And that way it's to reduce the risk of bringing emerald ash borer into the park."

The new request is part of a broader plan created several years ago by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, to respond to the bug, "Basically, that outlines a bunch of different things that we are going to do as an agency to help slow that spread," says Morris.

Emerald Ash Borer was recently detected in Yamhill, Marion and Clackamas counties, in addition to the existing Washington County infestation. Morris says staff haven't yet found any EAB on State Parks property, "They've been trapping all summer, eight different parks. And, so far so good. But they're close." One of the recent detections is in Woodburn, which is not far from ash stands in Champoeg (pictured) and Willamette Mission State Parks. 

Knowlton says the firewood request is an effort to allow the agency more time to plant resistant tree species, "So, those trees can grow up in the canopy and provide that shade that the ash trees currently provide, but as they die off, will no longer be able to provide. And so, it gives a way to soften the impact of the loss of those ash trees on the forest health, overall." OPRD is no longer planting ash trees, but hopes to eventually restore those lost to EAB in future years. 

?Oregon's Department of Agriculture already limits the movement of wood from Washington, Yamhill, Marion and Clackamas counties, with quarantines on ash wood, as well as white fringe and olive. For more, visit ODA's website. 

PORTLAND, OR -- An Oregon Sheriff's Office hopes a new cold case website will lead to useful tips in decades' old murder investigations.

"If law enforcement detectives don't speak for those that have lost their lives, then those cases never come to resolution for their families," says Multnomah County Detective Sgt. Brad Robertson. His agency has around two-dozen unsolved cold cases, "Where you don't have any other leads that are producing results, as far as provability." While MCSO has helped other agencies close cold cases, Robertson says it's been at least a decade since its resolved one of its own. 

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office launched a new website this week, dedicated to cold case homicide victims like Charly Richards, who disappeared August 21st, 1992. His body was found 10 days later. "He was working as a cook at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and he was last seen alive leaving his job," sayd Detective Tamari Johnson, "His body was actually discovered by hikers in a wooded area in Troutdale."

Richards is one of three murder victims featured on the site, in an effort to draw attention to an estimated two-dozen cold case homicides. Det. Sgt. Robertson says more cases will be added as time allows, "With technology, it's very much benefitted us now, but 20, 30, 40 years ago with these cases, we still have cases that have polaroid photos, things on microfilm, so that takes a massive amount of resources to go through, categorize and digitize that information."

Tips can be submitted through the webpage. Robertson says any information could be a possible lead, "If a person knows one of these individuals, or knew them prior to their death, they might not know exactly what sort of information they have is useful. But at the very least, we need to interview them and find out what they did know."

There's a new focus on old cases, because of modern technology. Portland Police revived its Cold Case unit earlier this year. "DNA technology has advanced significantly and there are new processes and new methods," says Robertson, "And I'm no expert in it, but there's evidence that we didn't even know that we might necessarily have had in the past that we're able to now re-evaluate and potentially develop a suspect." He says MCSO dissolved its dedicated Cold Case Unit about five years ago, due to retirements. The agency now relies on its 10 detectives to investigate those cases in addition to current ones. 

The cases featured on the new site all date back to the early 1990s. Robertson says Detectives are working with those surviving family members and, "Try to make sure that expectations are realistic and that we're going to do the best we can with the resources that we have. But also, trying to assure those families that we want to minimize any additional pain."

PORTLAND, OR -- Underage drinking is at a ten-year low, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers For Disease Control, and the beer industry is taking some of the credit.

The new report shows 22% of high school students surveyed admit to drinking alcohol over a 30-day period, down from 35% ten years earlier. Bill Young, with The Beer Institute, isn't surprised, "Because we've seen several years in a row now - a couple generations, really, worth of kids - that just look at underage drinking differently." But, he also belives kids need to hear positive and healthy messages from more than just their parents, "That means there's a lot of community involved in the prevention of underage drinking, and everyone can figure out how to have a role when invited to the table." And that includes the makers, distributors and sellers of alcohol.

According to Young, brewers and wholesalers provide retailers and bars with training and other resources, "If we can prop them up with a few things - some of them might think they're silly. One of them is just a sign when they come in the door that says, 'We're going to card you if you don't look old enough to buy alcohol.' So that's something that the beer industry started and you still see in stores today." They also provide training, "That training oftentimes is accessed with state permission, so everything is legal, either by a wholesaler or by a beer supplier. And in that training, they're training for how to check IDs."

And, retailers can even "sting" themselves, "We actually, in the industry, were part of setting up a program that still runs today, and it's actually global. It's called BARS, and BARS stands for Being an Alcohol Responsible Seller," says Young, "A retailer can actually pay for a monthly service. And the BARS business will send in people who look like they ought to be carded."

In the CDC survey, 24% of teen girls reported drinking in the past 30 days, while 20% of teen boys reported the same.

Underage marijuana use was also down in 2023, compared to 2013. But like alcohol, rates between 2021 and 2023 were relatively flat. View the full CDC report HERE. 

Graph courtesy of the U.S. Centers For Disease Control

SALEM, OR -- Oregon's Wildfire Hazard Map is moving into its next phase of development, after a month of public comment. The Board of Forestry this week narrowly approved rules for the map's rollout.

During this summer's public review period, Oregon's Department of Forestry received around 2,000 comments on the latest draft of the Wildfire Hazard Map. ODF's Tim Holschbach told the Board of Forestry everyone in a high hazard area will be notified with a packet of information, "What's different this time than it was in 2022, when the first notifications went out, is there'll be the draft building codes and the draft defensible space code is available." One board member noted, "The only thing that this map would trigger for a landowner is a defensible space requirement. The home hardening requirement is only for a new building permit, if you were to undertake any new construction or remodeling of a home."

Oregon Insurance Commissioner Andrew Stolfi addressed concerns about insurers pulling out of the state, like in California. Stolfi told the board California loses more homes to wildfire in fewer acres burned, compared to Oregon, "So, it's just a significant difference. It's a much more populous state, of course. But, differences in where the homes are built, between the two states, makes a huge difference." He says insurance companies have changed policies in wildfire-prone areas, but none have actually left the state. The new map considers climate, topography and vegetation, which Stolfi says, are only minor factors for insurers, "Some other characteristics, which insurance companies care very, very much about: age of the home, age of the roof, the type of roof, how far is that property from a fire station, what are the cost of the materials to rebuild, what's the square footage of the home?"

Before the four-to-three vote, board members spent a lot of time discussing the impact of irrigation on farmland, and whether data shows irrigated lands are less prone to fire. "Getting after agricultural fields is not what this rule was designed to do," said one board member, "The idea was to try and take care of where we've got structures and homes and forests that are likely to burn, that they'd be hardened." Another pushed back, saying their decisions will have broad consequences beyond fire protection, "We already are dealing with rural Oregonians feeling assaulted on a lot of levels, and assaulted around this map. I understand your logic, I don't really disagree with it. But I think it's salt in the wound." The approval allows a provision for agricultural land irrigated at least one out of every five years.

The rules are now on thier way to the legislative legal council for review.

HOOD RIVER, OR -- Women running for office across Oregon gather in Hood River Thursday for a training designed to help them campaign more effectively. The event is hosted by the nonprofit Vote, Run Lead Action. Oregon Director Becca Phelps says, "Women govern better." She knows that's a bold statement, but she says data backs up her claim: "We bring home more resources to our communities, historically speaking, when we're in a state legislative role. We collaborate at a deeper level than men, so we're able to work across the aisle in nonpartisan and bipartisan situations."

While more women are running for office, Phelps says they face different challenges than their male counterparts, including what she calls the Confidence Gap, "We know that males run for office at a higher rate than women. Males also run when they think they're qualified - maybe it's this 70-75% number, but they'll do it anyway. Where women, it takes us a lot longer to say, 'we think we're ready.'" However, when a man and woman run for an open seat, she says the genders win at equal rates. 

Phelps says her organization provides that boost in confidence and networking opportunities, "We recruit and train women and gender-expansive folks to run for office and win." The nonprofit will work Thursday with candidates and campaign staffers,  "To coach, to train women, to hear from women about what they need and how running for office is going, because we know historically women don't feel supported running for office." That support isn't only necessary for getting into office. She says it's also important for staying there, "There are a number of times, especially here in Oregon, where women have gotten elected, but they'll serve for one term. So, they will drop out because of pay issues; they'll drop out because of lack of access to the healthcare, the childcare piece, as well."

Vote, Run, Lead Action is a nonpartisan organization, which Phelps says allows the nonprofit to work beyond policy and reach the next generation of candidates and voters, "People are leaving their party and becoming not just Independent, that's their own party, but non-affiliated, not associated with any party." Her overall goal is for the Legislature and other governmental bodies to reflect the gender makeup of the state. Phelps says Oregon is close, but more work is needed. About half of the population is female, and women make up about 30% of the State Senate and 46% of the State House. 

FAIRVIEW, OR -- The National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate a weekend plane crash east of Portland that killed both people on board the aircraft and one person on the ground.

NTSB Air Safety Investigator Michael Hicks says the Cessna took off from the Troutdale Airport, "Saturday, August 31st, about 10:25 a.m. N421GP departed runway 25, Troutdale Airport, on a maintenance test flight." Hicks told reporters Tuesday, "During that maintenance test flight, the pilot reported issues with controlability. What those issues are, we are going to find out." He added, "Shortly after reporting the issues, a helicopter pilot in a Robinson R22 indicated that the aircraft, N421GP, impacted a residential area."

Gresham Fire Chief Scott Lewis says multiple townhome units in Fairview were destroyed, "The main impact was the second townhome in. And we have severe damage to the one to the right and the left; those three are definitely destroyed. My guess is the fourth one is probably unrepairable."

Tom Keegan was inside one of those units, "I saw the stuff blowing through the room, and I think that was the airplane coming across our deck and back of the house area. And then, 'boom,' and I was just thrown across into the bathtub. Somehow I looked around and saw insulation everywhere." He says the noise was incredible, "Like an M80 went off right here beside my head. When I stood up, I just- it was the loudest boom I ever heard." He believes being in his bathroom at the time of the crash may have saved his life, "If I'd have been in the other bathroom, I don't think I would've found a way out because when I came out of my bathroom, I looked at the bedroom and it was engulfed in flames and smoke and smelled like the most ghastly smell. It was plastic melting and electronics and stuff like that."

His wife Judy had walked down the street just before the crash and rushed home as soon as the chaos began. She was relieved to find her husband outside, but her next door neighbor was killed - her best friend of 20 years, "And I knew my friend was in the house."
The plane is registered to a Delaware corporation. The NTSB says the crash investigation could take up to 18 months.

(Portland, OR) -- Drug possession is again a crime in Oregon, but penalties for the new misdemeanor vary by county. "Each community is coming up with their own response," Governor Tina Kotek said Friday, "And you will see some communities that will have additional resources for deflection, keeping people out of jail and on a pathway to recovery and treatment." She added, "I have been impressed with how everyone has mobilized to come up with ways to say the first or second time should not be 'go to jail.' It should be 'can we get you into treatment? Can we get you into help?' And, I think across the state, we're seeing counties stepping up, trying to figure that out."

Counties have had five months to work out their plan and 20 expect to have some version of deflection by the end of the year; some are already up and running. Six others are expected in January. "What we're doing now is we want to track what's happening," said Kotek, "So when we go into the next legislative session, we really understand what has been happening on the ground, are we having good outcomes and how we should fund it differently or more, going into next year's budget."

Under HB 4002, a person caught with drugs can avoid jail by agreeing to participate in a treatment program, either before being formally arrested, or during the court or probation process. 

Portland Police say they exercised Oregon's new drug possession law on the first day it took effect. The PPB Central Bike Squad conducted an operation Sunday in and around downtown Portland and arrested four people for illicit drugs; a fifth was cited. Two others qualified for deflection and reportedly accepted services.