Oregon has officially surpassed its all-time record for wildfire acreage, with approximately 2.336 million acres burned during the 2026 season. This figure eclipses the previous record set in 2024. The Big Grass fire, currently spanning 513,437 acres, continues to grow and is approaching the record for the largest single wildfire in state history.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Forest Service have issued Level 1 "Be Ready" evacuations for the Harriet Lake area. Three wildfires, including the 30-acre Austin Fire, are burning in the upper Clackamas River drainage. In a separate incident, the Oregon Air National Guard has joined the effort to contain the 57,000-acre Grasshopper Fire near Mount Hood.
A three-alarm fire destroyed a mobile home and spread through steep, brush-covered terrain near Hilltop Road in Lebanon on Saturday. The fast-moving flames forced the evacuation of 18 people. Firefighters were able to prevent the blaze from consuming additional nearby residences despite high winds and dry conditions.
Officials report that embers from a trash fire at a Hillsboro landfill ignited a runaway grass fire on Saturday. The blaze torched 25 acres and threatened several homes before being contained. Separately, Lane County is facing renewed opposition from garbage haulers over plans to site the CleanLane food diversion project at the Short Mountain Landfill following previous permitting failures.
Biologists with the Bird Alliance of Oregon warn that a massive botulism outbreak in the Klamath Basin could kill more than 100,000 waterbirds. The group is urging the Bureau of Reclamation to release water to the Klamath National Wildlife Refuges to mitigate the die-off, noting that a similar event in 2024 resulted in 140,000 bird deaths.
Oregon’s legislative leadership issued a joint statement condemning "intimidation and violence" after State Senator Janeen Sollman (D-Hillsboro) was physically accosted during a community forum on Saturday. An individual was arrested and released following the incident. Leaders emphasized that such behavior has no place in government proceedings.
The Universal Health Plan Governance Board voted to delay its final report to the Oregon Legislature until December 1. The board cited significant uncertainty regarding the funding mechanisms for a proposed single-payer system. The report is intended to outline the state's transition to a public corporation providing universal coverage.
Governor Tina Kotek’s data center advisory committee will not recommend a statewide moratorium on new facilities, despite pressure from conservation groups and some Democratic lawmakers. The committee’s upcoming recommendations for the 2027 session will instead focus on increased transparency and stronger state-local partnerships to manage the industry's impact on energy and water resources.
Prosper Portland has declined to release external reports evaluating the success of its taxpayer-funded loan and grant programs. The refusal follows the high-profile failure of an agency-backed project that received $7 million in city funds. The lack of transparency has drawn criticism from local elected officials and the public.
Portland city councilors are scheduled to vote Wednesday on a term sheet for a long-term lease with the Trail Blazers. The framework includes a $120 million upfront city commitment for renovations to the city-owned Moda Center and $275 million for maintenance over a 20-year period.
Regulators have approved Salem Health’s takeover of the smaller Santiam Hospital system. While industry research suggests health system consolidations often lead to higher prices, officials from both organizations claim the merger is necessary to bolster long-term operational stability in the region.
After years of job growth outpacing the national average, Oregon’s unemployment rate has climbed significantly, moving from the middle of the pack to near the top of state rankings. The shift marks a cooling of the robust labor market the state enjoyed following the Great Recession.
City officials in Port Orford are racing to secure funding for a total overhaul of a water treatment plant dating back to the 1970s. Public works officials report that the filtration system is malfunctioning and distribution lines are leaking, creating a critical risk of system failure for the coastal community.
Nathaniel VerGow, formerly of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, has taken over as the head of the Multnomah County Homeless Services Department. VerGow inherits an agency that recently transitioned from a joint city-county office to a formal county department amid significant staff turnover.
A 19-year-old from Camas drowned in Round Lake at Lacamas Park on Friday evening. Witnesses reported the individual jumped into the water from a rope swing and did not resurface. Emergency crews recovered the body later that night.
Clark County deputies arrested a 27-year-old man following a shooting sparked by an argument over youths riding dirt bikes in the street. The victim suffered a graze wound, and the suspect faces charges of first-degree assault and felony harassment.
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Mark Cruz, a citizen of the Klamath Tribes, to lead the Indian Health Service. Cruz will oversee the federal agency responsible for providing healthcare to 2.8 million Native American and Alaska Native patients amid ongoing staffing and infrastructure challenges.