Portland considers broad Central City zoning changes
Portland City Council is scheduled to consider a zoning overhaul intended to expand housing and economic activity across Central City districts. The proposal would permit housing in some areas where it is now restricted, loosen limits on ground-floor residences and allow additional building height, including potentially no fixed height limit in some locations if developers meet requirements such as shadow reviews. The city says the changes could help convert vacant offices and ground floors to new uses while expanding retail, business and food-cart opportunities. Critics cite risks to industrial jobs and businesses and concerns about infrastructure capacity; the measure excludes scenic view corridors, historic districts and several designated areas, and would take effect March 1, 2027, if approved.
Lane County weighs quarry proposal opposed by Oakridge residents
Lane County commissioners are preparing to revisit a zoning change that could allow Old Hazeldell Quarry LLC to blast volcanic rock at TV Butte, east of Oakridge. The company’s proposal envisions a gravel operation lasting 35 to 50 years, which supporters say could provide locally sourced material and economic activity. Opponents, including nearby residents, say quarrying could threaten the city’s drinking-water supply, which draws from an aquifer connected to the butte, and damage Oakridge’s recreation-based development. Residents also point to a closed landfill on the butte that assessments have raised concerns could contain hazardous waste; commissioners are scheduled to hear public testimony Oct. 20.
Kayse Jama will leave Senate Democratic leadership
Oregon Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama says he will not seek another term leading the Democratic caucus, opening a key leadership position ahead of next year’s long legislative session. Jama, a Portland Democrat who arrived in Oregon after fleeing Somalia, became the first former refugee and Muslim American to serve in the Senate and took the majority leader role in November 2024. His office cited legislation passed during his leadership, including the 2025 POWER Act, which aims to make data centers pay more for their strain on utilities, as well as investments in immigrant legal representation and an earned income tax credit for low-income residents. Senate Democrats plan to elect their next leadership team Nov. 13; Jama is running unopposed for reelection to his Senate seat.
Salem-Keizer proposes closing six elementary schools
Salem-Keizer Public Schools has recommended closing Brush College, Candalaria, Cummings, Englewood, Liberty and Richmond elementary schools, with changes planned for fall 2027. The district says declining enrollment—about 6,000 fewer students than its peak—reflects falling birth rates and smaller incoming classes; it currently serves about 36,000 students. The proposal would affect roughly 5% of students, or just under 2,000 children, and the district is also considering boundary adjustments. District leaders are scheduled to present the recommendation to the school board Tuesday, with a vote on closures expected in December and a vote on boundary changes in February.
Salem ICE encounter prompts investigations and community concern
Federal immigration agents used tear gas to clear a crowd that had surrounded and blocked their vehicles near Lancaster Drive and Sunnyview Road in northeast Salem on Saturday morning, according to Salem police. Police said about 30 people were involved and that 911 callers reported breathing difficulty and eye irritation; first responders provided medical care, and Salem detectives are gathering evidence and witness statements for review by the Oregon Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas condemned the agents’ use of force, saying pepper spray, pepper balls and smoke canisters were used and that ICE vehicles drove recklessly. The incident comes amid reports of a broader increase in immigration arrests in Oregon, and community advocates say the activity is contributing to fear among Latino families facing detention and deportation.
Albany Youth Orchestra faces a funding gap
The Albany Youth Orchestra, which provides string instruction to students in grades 3–12, may have to cut classes and scholarships as it confronts a budget shortfall in the tens of thousands of dollars. Executive Director Madison Pritchard said falling donations have created uncertainty for the nonprofit’s next year. The organization serves close to 200 young people annually and is one of the area’s few programs offering music lessons to students ages 8 to 18. It also provides thousands of dollars in scholarships each year, while relying on community donations and volunteer support to keep instruction accessible.
Tribal youth launch canoe-based water monitoring project
The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians have launched a canoe equipped to monitor water quality on Oregon’s South Coast. About 20 Native young people from several tribes helped carve and design the vessel, called maniis tei hap’, or “healing our waters,” with instruction from tribal leaders. Solar-powered sensors will measure temperature, pH, turbidity and dissolved oxygen as the canoe is towed behind another vessel, producing data relevant to fish and other aquatic life. The project combines environmental monitoring with cultural connection and is supported by the federal Native Connections program, which funds community- and culture-based efforts to promote Native youth mental health and prevent suicide and substance misuse.
Oregon’s voter registration deadline is Oct. 13
Oregonians must register by Tuesday, Oct. 13, to vote in the Nov. 3 general election. Secretary of State Tobias Read says voters can check their status and register through Oregon’s elections website; eligible residents must be U.S. citizens, Oregon residents and at least 16, though ballots are issued at age 18. The state now has 244 ballot drop boxes, and voters can sign up for notifications when their ballot is mailed, received and counted. Read recommends mailing ballots by Oct. 27 to allow time for delivery, noting that 7,314 ballots were rejected for late postmarks in the May 2026 primary—35% more than in the May 2022 primary.