Julia Shumway

I’ll see your Mayors Wilson and raise you Salem’s Hoy vs. Hoy mayoral election. It’s been almost two years and I’m still not over them being two unrelated people who hate each other’s politics and not a pair of estranged spouses or siblings.

water has now been off at my apartment for six hours for “emergency shutoff valve repairs” and my goodness do I hate renting

TIL the South Carolina Senate has 46 members. Only two are women.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek confirms she will be seeking reelection in 2026 • Oregon Capital Chronicle As the state fights slow economic growth and unemployment, Kotek framed herself as a champion of Oregon who would defend working families.

Gov. Tina Kotek made it official: She's running for a second term. More via @shaanthx.bsky.social: oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/12/04/o...

Call for sources: I'm looking to interview folks who've sought health care at crisis pregnancy centers, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and want to talk about their experience. The center can be located anywhere. If you or someone you know might be interested, please email or send me a DM.

‘People will boycott’: How a coastal city's fight against ICE is making waves across Oregon • Oregon Capital Chronicle Hundreds of Oregonians from Newport and nearby have turned out to two public meetings to voice unanimous opposition to a potential facility.

Reporter @shaanthx.bsky.social recently traveled to Newport to learn more about the coastal city's fight against ICE is making waves across Oregon.

www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UHUXke/... I am looking to interview people who have sought health care at crisis pregnancy centers, intentionally or unintentionally, and want to talk about their experience. If you or someone you know might be interested, please email or DM #pregnant #news #trending #healthcare

Another ODOT funding gap looms if enough signatures collected for gas tax petition • Oregon Capital Chronicle Petition organizers have until Dec. 30 to collect signatures to refer to the ballot a suite of transportation tax and fee hikes.

Petitioners say they’ve gathered well more than enough signatures to block planned increases to the state’s gas tax, vehicle registration and title fees and a transit payroll tax until voters have a chance to weigh in next November.

oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/12/01/a...

Made it home, checked my work email and immediately regretted it.

You might be joking, but Arizona actually sold and leased back its Capitol during the recession. www.azcentral.com/story/news/p...

Oregon’s lawsuits against Trump cost a fraction of what state has saved • Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon's a part of at least 45 lawsuits against the Trump administration, often teaming up with other states to prevent federal funding cuts.

For months I've wondered how much it costs to sue the Trump administration. After digging into this, I found out it's not really taking Oregon taxpayers extra dollars and it's actually keeping $4.5 billion in place.
oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/11/25/o...

Donate • Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon Capital Chronicle is a nonprofit news operation that depends on people like you to support high-quality journalism that can be provided to Oregonians at no cost. By donating with a…

Has the Capital Chronicle helped you keep up with Oregon news? We're trying to raise $20,000 by the end of the year to continue our work. No ads. No paywall. No fear or favor.

Oregon’s lawsuits against Trump cost a fraction of what state has saved • Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon's a part of at least 45 lawsuits against the Trump administration, often teaming up with other states to prevent federal funding cuts.

Oregon has filed 46 lawsuits against the Trump administration, keeping $4.5 billion and counting in the state's hands. buff.ly/T4CVs5L

Before he decided to sit on top of an in-use embroidery hoop, we went through 10 minutes of trying to explain that the suspicious furry orange snake he was trying to catch is — and always has been — his own tail.

Orange cat stares blankly while sitting on top of an embroidery hoop

We have “Wicked” at home but it’s just the line “life is painless, when you’re brainless” playing on repeat over Fred’s antics.

He’s looking around for the culprit, clearly

Will anyone ever solve the mystery of who knocked four ornaments off this tree while I was working late?

Thanks a lot, Google AI, for making it impossible to get accurate AP style answers without logging into the actual online stylebook.

‘Found money,’ economic resilience dramatically shrink Oregon’s budget deficit • Oregon Capital Chronicle Adjusted corporate income tax receipts, mild revenue increases have modestly improved state’s budget outlook, economists said.

Like putting on an old winter coat and pulling an unexpected $20 bill from the pocket, or getting a birthday check that covers a surprise bill, the $373 million budget deficit Oregon faced just yesterday is being shrunk, for now, by what state economists call “found money.” buff.ly/FDsKGJd

An orange cat laying on a white tree skirt is mesmerized by Christmas lights above him

Edward Cullen stands behind Bella Swan as she bites her lip on an outdoor movie screen. Rows of cars sit below and evergreen trees frame the screen.

News and life are overwhelming but I’m finding simple joys, like watching Fred watch Christmas lights and Twilight in the trees.

In which a main character of the first Oregon elections I covered decides to jump to the national stage.

Home • Oregon Capital Chronicle

If you like political news about Oregon from people who write clearly and only have professional interactions with sources, have I got a website for you.

oregoncapitalchronicle.com

a man standing in front of a bulletin board with the name pepe silvia written on it ALT: a man standing in front of a bulletin board with the name pepe silvia written on it

Trying to explain the current media intrigue to friends who were smart enough to stay out of this field

Thanks to all of you fantastic readers, we're about 5% of the way to our end-of-year fundraising goal after launching this campaign a few hours ago! Help the Capital Chronicle keep covering Oregon: oregoncapitalchronicle.com/donate/

Lawmakers to discuss ‘painful’ cuts for Oregon agencies under $373 million deficit • Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon lawmakers asked all state agencies to create lists of ways to cut 5% of their legislatively approved budgets.

As Oregon lawmakers stare down a deficit of at least $373 million over the next two years — and brace for the possibility of a bigger shortfall — they asked all state agencies to create lists of ways to cut 5% of their legislatively approved budgets. buff.ly/VageCKI

It’s really something to wrap up a late Friday scramble of writing and editing important but not sexy stories and then read the latest hagiography of a NY media darling who got a book deal out of inappropriately texting a source.

Applications to join the @spjoregon.bsky.social board are still open! Perks include feeling good about supporting journalism and defeating bad public records bills in Oregon and occasionally seeing my cat on zoom calls.

www.spjoregon.com/news/apply-f...

At a special city council meeting tonight, Newport City Manager Nina Vetter confirmed that the contractor Team Housing Solutions has withdrawn its letter of intent to lease the property at the city's municipal airport. Story to come for @oregoncapitalchronicle.com, still have a 2 hour meeting to go.

Military housing contractor sought Newport airport lease site before ICE facility reports • Oregon Capital Chronicle A Nov. 4 letter addressed to the city by a Texas-based defense contractor sheds light on some of the pressures facing local officials.

A vague letter from a Texas-based defense contractor spurred concern in Newport that the federal government would seek to establish an immigration detention facility on Oregon’s Central Coast.  buff.ly/AUbX4Qt

Deal to end shutdown gains traction in US Senate as vote nears • Oregon Capital Chronicle WASHINGTON — A deal was within reach Sunday night to end the longest federal government shutdown in history, when it appeared enough U.S. Senate Democrats had agreed to join Republicans to…

Both Oregon's senators are opposed to a deal to end the longest federal government shutdown in history, with Sen. Jeff Merkley calling it "a brutal blow to all those who have stood together to save affordable health care for more than 20 million Americans."

buff.ly/MqerHps