Oregon

103 Stories

Environment

Rare and resilient: Sunflower sea stars found on Oregon Coast

Staff at the Oregon Coast Aquarium regularly search nearby Yaquina Bay for ocean life. On a recent voyage, they came across a big surprise – a group of 25 sunflower sea stars.
Libby Denkmann

Diana Opong

Alec Cowan
Government

Oregon Republicans walk out of state Legislature in protest of Democrat-sponsored bills

Oregon's Republican state lawmakers staged a walkout this week, in a protest over bills that Democrats are pushing through the state Legislature. The move could be a test of new voter-approved rules.
Lauren Dake
Controversial mega-dairy and farm under fresh scrutiny by Oregon officials

At issue are fertilizer leaks at the former Lost Valley Farm. The Easterdays, who now own the site, say they’re not responsible.
Anna King
Environment

A wolverine has been seen outside of its normal range for the first time in 30 years

In Oregon, wolverines are typically located in the Wallowa Mountains in the northeast of the state. But the animal was seen near Portland this week.
Ayana Archie
National

Oregon kidnapping suspect dies of self-inflicted gunshot, police say

A suspect in a violent kidnapping in Oregon died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Tuesday night after being taken into custody following a standoff with law enforcement, a police spokesman said.
The Associated Press
National

A man accused of torturing women is using dating apps to look for victims, police say

Authorities are looking for Benjamin Obadiah Foster, who they accuse of kidnapping and assaulting a woman in Oregon — years after he was charged with holding his then-girlfriend captive in Las Vegas.
Rachel Treisman
Roadway carnage has lawmakers pitching everything from more photo radar to fewer right turns on red

State lawmakers in Olympia are debating a suite of possible new responses to surging traffic fatalities. Those include authorizing photo radar in highway work zones, prohibiting right turns at many red lights, and lowering the breathalyzer limit to convict for drunk driving. Some of these ideas have corollaries in Oregon, where the legislative machinery is getting revved up too.
Tom Banse
Environment

Oregon lawmaker introduces a bill that would ban the sale of kangaroo parts

A bill that would ban the sale of kangaroo parts has been introduced in the Oregon Legislature, taking aim at sports apparel manufacturers that use leather from the animals to make their products.
The Associated Press
Lighting the way for 150 years: Yaquina Head Lighthouse prepares for sesquicentennial

The stewards of Oregon's tallest lighthouse are sprucing up the popular landmark on Oregon's central coast for its 150th anniversary in 2023.
Tom Banse
Environment

A record high number of dead trees are found as Oregon copes with an extreme drought

Wildfires and a Western megadrought led to a historic die-off of evergreen trees in the state — nearly twice as bad as the previous worst year. Some researchers have dubbed it "firmageddon."
Juliana Kim

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