Gosia Wozniacka

Minuscule test score gains signal Oregon faces years of digging out from its post-pandemic academic hole Overall, the state’s students are still performing far below pre-COVID levels, according to results released Thursday by the Oregon Department of Education.

This one may be a lot more critical for Oregon than 'war ravaged' headlines. "There are not many indicators that are as important for our current and future economic outlook as this one." via @jrlsilverman.bsky.social www.oregonlive.com/education/20...

Jane Goodall, legendary researcher and advocate for the planet, dies at 91 Jane Goodall, the conservationist renowned for her groundbreaking chimpanzee field research, has died.

RIP Jane Goodall www.oregonlive.com/entertainmen...

Will Portland weaken its policy to phase out diesel, replace it with biofuels? Portland’s Renewable Fuels Standards Advisory Committee is poised to recommend delaying the phase-out -- but the decision on how to move ahead will be made by city leaders.

And... environmentally-minded Portland may soon weigh whether to weaken its policy to phase out diesel, replace it with biofuels. (Hint: some biofuel feedstocks can result in emissions comparable to or higher to those of petroleum diesel). www.oregonlive.com/environment/...

How Oregon’s smallest city, population 0, keeps itself alive Greenhorn needed a special state law to allow it to continue to have a city government.

Great weekend reading! @editorswindler.bsky.social visited Oregon's 5 smallest towns. Places like that have some amazing stories. Read the series here: www.oregonlive.com/living/2025/...

"Amid the cacophony of Oregon's dangerous wildfires, the music of flames" A story fitting for our times. Farewell, David Stabler. www.oregonlive.com/O/2009/09/am...

91 offensive landmark names in Oregon will be replaced. Here’s how you can help Oregon is in the process of renaming geographic places with "insulting and derogatory" words.

There's a new effort in Oregon to replace offensive geographic names across the state. The to-do list is currently 91 names long.

This series by @lizzyacker.bsky.social is definitely giving me nightmares. Must read.

Whale (and bird, and people) watching on the Oregon coast.

Oregon fights back after losing $86M in solar funding The state has filed an administrative challenge to claw back the Solar for All grant award terminated by the Trump administration.

Last year, Oregon got a $86.6 million federal grant to pay for solar projects that would reduce electric bills for Oregonians throughout the state. The Trump administration cancelled the award last month. Now, Oregon is fighting back. www.oregonlive.com/environment/...

Map: These Oregon natural areas could be logged, developed if Trump rescinds roadless rule Check out our map to find out what Oregon landmarks are included in the neary 2 million acres of Oregon wilderness that could open up to roadbuilding and logging.

Check out our map to see which areas in Oregon could be logged if Trump admin. rescinds the roadless rule. with @mfriesen.bsky.social www.oregonlive.com/environment/...

fascinating story!

Football made him a star. Poetry, and Portland, made him whole. | Bill Oram After the world watched him suffer a career-ending injury, the former NFL draft pick says Portland gave him his life back.

An ugly injury ended his career but Marcus Lattimore could always fall back on being a South Carolina football icon.

But after a few years, he started to ask: "Is this all it's gonna be for me?"

He moved to Oregon, found a home and found his voice — remarkably, as a poet.

New at @oregonian.com:

This is pretty cool, an Oregon first: state wildlife officials and tribes would co-manage this proposed wildlife area in the Blue Mountains.

Can Opal Creek, a treasured natural area devastated by the 2020 Labor Day wildfires, come back to life? Research at Opal Creek shows a new forest is growing where the fire severely damaged old-growth trees and plants. The public can soon see the recovery in real time.

The anniversary of Opal Creek's devastation is Sept. 7th. Can the treasured natural area devastated by the 2020 Labor Day wildfires come back to life? I hiked into Opal Creek to find out. www.oregonlive.com/environment/...

They are still here. Excellent story by @mkhaw.bsky.social

Portland parks director resigns weeks after placed on administrative leave Adena Long, the director of Portland Parks & Recreation, stepped down from her job Wednesday, weeks after she was placed on administrative leave.

Portland parks director resigns weeks after placed on administrative leave (and hours before City Council's scheduled vote to refer a significant parks levy increase to voters this fall).

www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

AC requirement may hit rentals in Portland The proposal is still in the early planning stages and would require landlords to install air conditioners or heat pumps in rental units to maintain a maximum indoor temperature during summer heat.

Portland landlords and property owners might soon have to install ACs or heat pumps in all rental apartments and homes in the city -- assuming a proposal for a maximum temperature standard moves forward. www.oregonlive.com/environment/...

Judge bars US from arbitrarily terminating 2 Oregon university students’ legal status “Deafening silence has been the only response by the Defendants in explaining, let alone justifying, the actions taken here,” the judge wrote.

US Homeland Security Dept. Secretary Kristi Noem & ICE have filed a notice of intent to appeal fed Judge Michael J. McShane's prelim injunction issued in May --

May story: Judge bars US from arbitrarily terminating 2 Oregon university students' legal status

www.oregonlive.com/education/20...

Rural hospitals will be hit hard by Trump’s signature spending package: commentary Health policy experts predict that cuts to Medicaid will push more rural hospitals to close.

Health policy experts predict that cuts to Medicaid will push more rural hospitals to close.

Wondering about energy-related impacts of Trump's 900-page tax breaks and spending cuts bill? It eliminates the federal EV tax credit by Sept. 30, also does away with tax credits for rooftop solar, heat pumps, insulation, etc. by year's end.

Foundational Portland painter who revealed Black history in PNW dies at 84 Isaka Shamsud-Din was a dedicated Civil Rights activist and created many of the city’s best loved murals.

The foundational (but often overlooked) Portland painter Isaka Shamsud-Din has died.

A survivor of the Vanport floods, Shamsud-Din is the artist behind many of the city's best loved murals.

He was 84.

www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...

Oregon Zoo not yet ‘all aboard’ with reviving historic 3-mile train loop The zoo contends that the project would be much more complicated — and expensive — than simply dusting off the old tracks.

great story by @mkhaw.bsky.social about the effort to revive historic train from Oregon Zoo through Washington Park www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...

U.S. measles cases reach 33-year record high as outbreaks spread Johns Hopkins University data reflects the public health reversal in defeating the vaccine-preventable disease since measles was officially eliminated from the U.S. in 2000.

The United States has recorded its highest annual measles cases in 33 years. The milestone marks a public health reversal in defeating a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease as the anti-vaccine movement gains strength.

Rural Oregon’s clean energy investments at risk as Republicans pass Trump’s budget bill The budget bill passed Thursday by U.S. House Republicans seeks, among other cuts, to gut clean energy incentives to pay for President Donald Trump’s proposed tax breaks.

It's been an interesting couple days on the enviro beat, with House Republicans gutting clean energy tax credits, Congress revoking CA's Clean Air Act waivers (which OR also relies on) and Oregon Republicans trying to revive a controversial cap-and-trade system. www.oregonlive.com/environment/...

Oregon House Republicans confirm they made $50 million goof when dismissing need for transportation tax hike The caucus acknowledged the error after The Oregonian/OregonLive pointed out the likely mistake.

Oops.

Oregon House Republicans confirm they made $50 million goof when dismissing need for transportation tax hike

www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Oregon State acquires 3,110 acres next to Forest Park for research, logging and recreation The nonprofit Trust for Public Land bought the land from timber giant Weyerhaeuser Co. using public and private funds and donated it to the university.

Oregon State University just acquired a new forest for research/logging/recreation, this one near Portland's Forest Park. Not everyone is happy. www.oregonlive.com/environment/...

Oregon, other states sue to overturn Trump administration’s rollback of billions for EV chargers Oregon could lose more than $26 million until the courts intervene, said Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield.

Oregon, other states sue to overturn Trump administration’s rollback of billions for EV chargers www.oregonlive.com/environment/...

She tried to spare her block’s beloved tree. Portland put her through a bureaucratic buzz saw “It feels like a stab in the gut."

Must-read from @shanedkavanaugh.bsky.social: the saga of a beloved Portland tree, the woman who tried to save it and the bureaucracy that thwarted her attempts. www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Portland mayor proposes fee hikes, layoffs in $8.5B budget that boosts some core city services "The task before us requires city government to rebuilding trust with the public and proving we can deliver purpose and impact with every dollar we spend."

It's here!

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson unveiled a proposed $8.5 billion Monday that would hike numerous city fees and slash municipal jobs while also preserving and even boosting basic services centered around public safety and livability.

www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...