AGP Executive Report

Utility & Data Centers: Gov. Tina Kotek praised the Oregon Public Utility Commission’s expected July 7 approval of new PGE rates that would raise electricity costs for data centers by about 29% while slightly lowering rates for other customers, a key step under the POWER Act. Local Courts & Federal Funding: Salem sued FEMA and DHS over new disaster-grant conditions tied to DEI limits and immigration enforcement cooperation, saying more than $1 million is at risk. Accessible History: Oregon Tech won a $200,000 matching grant to build “Battlefield Sound,” an audio and geolocated mobile experience for Fort Astoria’s War of 1812 story, designed for blind, low-vision, and print-dyslexic visitors. Fire Safety for July 4: Oregon officials warned that dry, breezy weather is pushing fire danger higher, urging residents to use only legal fireworks and follow strict rules on ODF-protected lands. Sports (Oregon ties): Eugene hosts the Prefontaine Classic this weekend, with local shot-put star Jaida Ross set to compete.

Oregon Governance: U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley urged Gov. Tina Kotek’s data center advisory committee to address community concerns as Oregon weighs rapid data center growth. Public Utilities: The Oregon PUC is inviting Avion Water customers to comment on a proposed rate increase, with a virtual meeting set for July 7 and comments due by July 29. Tribal & Local Planning: The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the City of Bend held a joint meeting focused on Deschutes Basin water conservation, plus updates on art and Bend’s 20-year growth plan. Community Health & Caregiving: Partners In Care in Bend is hosting a free July 16 class on understanding dementia-related behaviors for caregivers. Outdoors & Travel: A guide highlights a hike to Robinson and Kuitan lakes in the McKenzie River corridor, with trout fishing and limited-entry overnight rules. Safety & Fireworks: Bend officials remind residents fireworks are banned within city limits, with dry conditions raising wildfire risk.

I-5 Bridge Update: Oregon and Washington cleared a major federal hurdle for the Interstate 5 bridge replacement, with the FHWA/FTA issuing an amended record of decision—meaning the states can move toward permits and contractor selection. Public Safety: Oregon officials are asking the public to help find missing 16-year-old Jaylynn O’Hara near Eugene, warning she may be in danger. Courts: The Oregon Supreme Court declined to order Meta to release Instagram messages in a Salem-area murder case tied to a self-defense claim. Local Law: Oregon law requires dog owners to license pets, with fines possible for unlicensed dogs. Sports & Schools: Oregon State baseball landed catcher Coen Niclai, while the rebuilt Pac-12 officially welcomed Texas State and other schools, reshaping college athletics across the region. Community & Culture: Portland Arts Week is set to build on the city’s art momentum, and Klamath Falls opened its first methadone clinic to expand opioid treatment access.

Oregon State Parks Access: Oregon Parks and Recreation and the State Library are teaming up to give Oregon public libraries free state parks parking permits, with 200 hang tags available at 82 libraries statewide so library cardholders can park at day-use areas in all Oregon State Parks. Wildfire Safety: With wildfire season already kicking off in parts of Eastern Oregon, officials are warning that dry conditions and human-caused ignitions mean fireworks restraint matters—especially around the Fourth of July. Mail-In Voting Update: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld Mississippi’s rule allowing certain mail ballots to be counted after Election Day if they’re postmarked by then, a major shift in the national fight over vote-by-mail rules. Local Public Safety: Adams County is seeing early wildfire activity and is investigating how a major blaze started, while local law enforcement is also asking for help locating suspects in a Lind stabbing case. Healthcare in Eugene: A group of emergency physicians in Eugene is fighting a hospital plan to replace its long-running independent emergency medicine contract with an out-of-state corporate staffing company. Portland Travel: The second phase of PDX’s main terminal expansion is complete, adding new arrival and baggage-claim flow, more gathering space, and new retail and dining.

U.S. Supreme Court: The court rejected President Trump’s attempt to narrow birthright citizenship, upholding the 14th Amendment and drawing sharp reactions from Oregon leaders and immigrant advocates. Oregon Public Safety: Officials urged caution at Tamolitch Falls after a Wichita State student drowned, highlighting how quickly cold water and dangerous conditions can turn deadly. Wildfire Readiness: Oregon fire agencies reminded residents of key rules for forest visitors during fire season, including shutting down gas chainsaws at 1 p.m. and checking local restrictions. Local Community & Sports: Oregon Ducks players visited the Boys and Girls Club in Eugene for Q&As and games, while the Trail Blazers agreed to a contract extension with Robert Williams III. Oregon Outdoors & History: The Oregon Depot Museum received a $5,000 grant to restore the historic Silver View railcar, and Oregon’s Kitchen Table hosts a conversation series tied to the America 250 moment. Weather: Forecasters warned of a warming trend into the holiday weekend with dry conditions that could raise fire-weather concerns.

Supreme Court & Voting Rights: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship and also ruled states can count mail ballots arriving after Election Day, a win for Oregon and Washington election officials. Privacy & Tech: In a major privacy decision, the Court said people have a reasonable expectation of privacy in cell phone location history, limiting government access to geolocation data. Oregon Politics & Governance: Oregon’s mail-ballot fight got another boost as officials praised the Supreme Court ruling allowing late-arriving ballots. Public Safety: Baker City fire chief issued a fireworks warning ahead of July 4, citing drying fuels after a cool, wet start. Oregon Sports & Community: Jesuit’s Iman Foster broke the state triple jump record again at Nike Outdoor Nationals; and St. Paul Rodeo marked 90 years of Fourth of July tradition. Local Crime: Roseburg investigators reported gunshots after a fight at a party left three men injured. Business & Industry: Thermo Fisher is expanding drug manufacturing in Oregon with AustinPx’s KinetiSol technology.

Supreme Court & Voting Rights: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that states can count mail ballots received after Election Day, dealing a blow to the Trump administration and giving relief to Oregon and other states with “grace periods.” Oregon Elections & Ballot Access: Oregon’s initiative drive is stalling—nearly every proposed measure won’t make the November ballot, with only one citizen petition currently on track. Public Health: USDA issued a health alert for mislabeled chicken sold at Fred Meyer/Kroger, including a “best if used by” June 28 lot code 15326A—don’t eat it. Wildfire & Safety: Oregon’s neighbors are dealing with fast-moving fires, including Washington’s Lambdin Fire and evacuation orders near Winthrop. Local Governance: Lane County approved a tight $1.2B budget for July 1, with public safety and rural services facing tough tradeoffs. Homelessness: Gov. Kotek highlighted Central Oregon progress, citing a 19.1% drop in homelessness in the Point-in-Time count. Community Giving: Three Rivers Foundation awarded $850,000 to 83 Oregon nonprofits, including Lane County groups. Weather: Breezy, cooler conditions continue through midweek before summer heat builds.

Wildfire Preparedness Milestone: Oregon marked five years of Fire Adapted Oregon and Response Ready Oregon, highlighting training, defensible-space work, and new firefighting capacity as wildfire risk keeps rising. Salmon & Hatchery Funding: BPA will end funding for the Columbia salmon SAFE program Sept. 30, creating a projected $2.4 million gap and putting more than 7 million hatchery salmon at risk, according to Oregon and Washington fishery officials. Rural Health: Oregon will distribute $37.5 million to nearly two dozen rural hospitals to protect labor-and-delivery services ahead of looming Medicaid changes, though officials call it a short-term fix. Food Safety Alert: USDA issued a health alert for Private Selection Honey Dijon chicken breasts sold at Kroger and Fred Meyer in Oregon due to an undeclared egg allergen on some packages. Earthquake: A magnitude 5.5 quake struck off the Oregon coast early Monday; no tsunami expected. Local Water Watch: Baker City saw water use drop after a cool, damp stretch, easing demand during drought conditions. Housing Update: A long-stalled Independence building in Polk County is getting new life as a proposed affordable housing complex. Community Pride: Cottage Grove held its first-ever Pride picnic at Coiner Park, aiming for more accessible local events.

Oregon Public Safety: Volunteers with the Upper McKenzie Rural Fire Protection District handled two major emergencies within hours—first a log truck crash near Finn Rock that trapped a driver and his dog, then a fatal Blue Pool water rescue where a swimmer couldn’t be revived. Local Environment & Conservation: An Oregon winery found a low-tech habitat helper: sheep grazing at Van Duzer Vineyards helped restore land for the Fender’s blue butterfly, once thought extinct. Oregon Community & Culture: Miss Oregon 2026 went to Allyssa Defillipo, a Sierra Cascade nutrition coach and children’s book author, after a week of regional competition and a long Saturday finale. Oregon Outdoors & Travel: Redmond Municipal Airport earned a top-10 “resort airport” spot in a USA Today readers’ poll, highlighting Central Oregon access to outdoor getaways. Statewide Summer Plans: Lincoln City is bringing back Fourth of July fireworks over Devil’s Lake (not Siletz Bay) due to wildlife, safety, and fire concerns. National Politics (Oregon link): Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon joined a push to stop the State Department from issuing limited-edition passports featuring a sitting president’s portrait.

Federal Courts: A federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s DOJ bid to obtain Pennsylvania’s entire unredacted voter-registration database, saying the request lacked legal authority and could be used for nationwide voter-data “weaponization.” Oregon Housing: Oregon’s new renter privacy law (HB 4123) lets tenants seek up to twice monthly rent when confidential information like immigration status or medical records is knowingly leaked. Public Safety: Two people pulled from a Hillsboro house fire died after firefighters rescued them from the second floor; the cause is under investigation. Food Safety: USDA issued a public health alert for Private Selection Honey Dijon chicken breasts sold in Oregon and other states due to an undeclared egg allergen. Local Life: Lakeview/Paisley baseball opened league play with a sweep of North Valley, including a 19-1 win in five innings. Community & Culture: Cinema 21’s noir series continues, and the Lake County Library District’s Books, Brats and Beer fundraiser is set for Aug. 14.

Social Security Crunch: A new analysis warns Oregonians could see Social Security checks drop about 22% if the trust fund runs out by late 2032, cutting benefits by roughly $500 a month on average. Bridge Planning: ODOT is asking how people use Salem’s Center Street Bridge ahead of major construction and long lane closures, with the survey open until July 19. Public Safety: Springfield police are investigating an anonymous bomb threat at the Marshalls on Gateway; a K-9 cleared the store and shoppers returned. Everyday Oregon Savings: Fred Meyer is expanding its rewards so Oregon shoppers can redeem points for grocery discounts, not just gas. Community & Culture: Eugene Pride Festival drew more than 10,000 people for a day of LGBTQ+ celebration and community-building. Local Sports Buzz: The Savannah Bananas brought Banana Ball to Autzen Stadium, packing about 60,000 fans for a fun, fast-paced twist on baseball.

Oregon Politics & Elections: Oregon vote-by-mail is getting pushback again, with a commentary arguing the system is secure and that voter intimidation is the real threat, not rare fraud. Local Governance: Waldport voters are mailing ballots for a recall election that could end the fight over whether to recall none, some or all six city councilors, with ballots due July 13. Wildfire Readiness: Nearly 200 trainees finished a five-day Oregon wildland fire school in Sweet Home, ending with a controlled burn simulation as fire risk ramps up. Environment & Waste: St. Vincent de Paul’s mattress recycling program is diverting about 250 beds a day in Oregon, recycling enough to stack 10 Mount Hoods worth of mattresses in a year. Community & Culture: The Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation is celebrating a $3.5 million expansion of its Head Start Early Learning facility, adding year-round care for up to 16 infants and toddlers. Statewide Public Safety: Joseph City Council is considering a garbage rate hike tied to higher landfill tipping fees. Sports (Oregon): North Lake volleyball hired Kayleigh Fivecoat as head coach, and Lakeview/Paisley baseball swept Rogue River to earn a playoff bid.

Wildfire policy: Trump’s plan to merge wildland firefighting into a single federal agency under Interior is drawing warnings from former officials that it could trigger chaos and cost billions. Public health: USDA issued a public health alert for misbranded raw boneless chicken breast sold at Kroger and Fred Meyer stores in nine states, including Oregon, due to an undeclared allergen (eggs). Oregon outdoors & wildlife: Oregon confirmed a destructive mussel discovery in the state for the first time, while separate reporting highlights bird flu’s continued spread across birds and dairy herds, including Oregon. Local Oregon community: A Klamath Basin update says grasshoppers are showing up in localized pockets, prompting monitoring efforts. Education & community service: Eastern Oregon’s DAR chapter is spotlighted for supporting veterans through history and outreach. Sports (Oregon ties): Oregon’s track and field scene remains in the spotlight with athletes earning national recognition, including Ben Smith’s win at the NCAA West First Round.

Klamath Water Rights: A federal appeals court ruled the Endangered Species Act applies to how the Klamath Irrigation Project is run, limiting irrigators’ ability to block required water releases and strengthening protections for fish and habitat. Crater Lake Misinformation: False reports that Crater Lake would close for years have been hurting nearby Fort Klamath businesses; the park stays open year-round, but the Cleetwood Cove Trail and boat access are expected to be shut for repairs until 2029. Oregon Education: A new national report shows major learning loss since COVID, with 40% of fourth graders lacking basic reading skills and 39% of eighth graders behind in math. Local Sports: Oregon athletes made noise at Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, including Oregon men’s NCAA track standouts and high school competitors in field and track events. Community & Business: Salem’s Get Simple Box won a “Best of the Willamette Valley” moving-services award, highlighting its container moving and storage options.

Elections & Voting Rights: Oregon’s Sen. Jeff Merkley is pressing for answers over the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool rehab after lawmakers questioned no-bid contracting and whether “American flag blue” work played a role in algae and later damage. Democracy Under Pressure: The Postal Service says it won’t deliver mail ballots in states that won’t hand over voter lists under a proposed rule, a move Democrats warn could reshape who gets to vote by mail. Oregon Public Safety: Multnomah County approved an ordinance banning mobile syringe distribution within 1,000 feet of K-12 schools, effective Aug. 24, 2026. Local Crime: Springfield police arrested a well-known “bubble” performer, alleging child sexual abuse. Outdoors & Community: BLM is reopening Aquila Vista campground near Molalla after the 2020 Labor Day fires, bringing back overnight camping. Oregon Environment: DEQ issued two fines in North Powder, including for an unpermitted waste tire storage site. Sports & Tech: Oregon Youth Soccer is using a “Turf Tank” robot to paint fields faster and more accurately. Culture: Portland’s Le Pigeon marked 20 years as one of the city’s most important restaurants.

Cannabis Economy: A new U.S. Cannabis Jobs Report finds both legal cannabis jobs and revenue fell for the first time since adult-use markets expanded—employment down about 2.7–2.9% to 412,500 workers, while total sales slipped 3.3% to $29.1B, blamed on price compression from oversupply. Public Health (Oregon): Deschutes County commissioners heard new findings linking early, more potent adolescent cannabis use to higher mental health risks and school impacts, with Oregon’s legal purchase age at 21. Workplace Law (Oregon): An Oregon-focused legal explainer breaks down when bullying crosses into harassment and what employers should do to prevent costly claims. Local Safety: A Gresham crash left a man pinned under a pickup; court records say the driver admitted drinking gin, with investigators also noting cannabis in the car. Community & Culture: Sisters’ tourism spotlight highlights food, views, and easy access to outdoor recreation, while Elgin’s Stampede Rodeo returns July 8–11 with Family Night and rodeo events. Portland Politics: Portland City Council work sessions continue over whether to fund up to $120M in Moda Center renovations.