Oregon-Northwest Archives

Senators Merkley, Wyden raise concerns over Postal Service postmark practices, impacts on vote-by-mail

January 19, 2026 3:59 pm Barney Lerten

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and California Senator Alex Padilla, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, have raised concerns with recent developments by the U.S. Postal Service affecting postmark practices, and their potential impacts on vote-by-mail elections. Right before the holiday season, USPS clarified its recent practices in a

Interstate 5 Bridge over the Columbia River

Coast Guard OKs new I-5 bridge over Columbia River with a fixed, not movable span

January 19, 2026 12:53 pm Oregon Capital Chronicle

By Jerry Cornfield, Washington State Standard PORTLAND, Ore. — Washington and Oregon will not have to build a bridge with a movable span to accommodate tall marine vessels when they replace the aging Interstate 5 bridge across the Columbia River, the U.S. Coast Guard decided Friday. Instead, the states can go with a less expensive

Overhaul of Oregon’s school funding formula, public education goals has lawmakers at odds

January 19, 2026 11:54 am Oregon Capital Chronicle

By Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle SALEM, Ore. — There’s an ambitious effort underway at the Capitol to overhaul how the state determines funding levels for schools, but lawmakers are torn over the timing and larger questions about the goals of Oregon’s public education system. Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, and Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham, co-chairs

Oregon Health Authority confirms new measles case in Clackamas County, state’s third recent case

January 16, 2026 6:30 pm KTVZ

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A new measles case has been identified in Clackamas County, the Oregon Health Authority reported Friday, again encouraging people to make sure they are protected against the very contagious disease. OHA said the affected individual is unvaccinated. The agency and Clackamas County health officials have not yet determined whether the person has traveled outside of Oregon, or if

100 Oregon National Guard soldiers welcomed home after canceled Portland deployment, demobilization

January 16, 2026 12:10 pm KTVZ

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek and Oregon Military Department leaders greeted about 100 Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers returning to the Portland International Airport Thursday evening after their months-long wait for deployment to Portland, which was canceled amid court challenges. The soldiers arrived back home from demobilization at Fort Bliss, Texas, concluding their

6.0 magnitude earthquake strikes off Oregon coast near Bandon, no tsunami expected

January 16, 2026 9:07 am Kelsey Merison

BANDON, Ore. (KTVZ) — According to the USGS, just before 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 15th, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the Oregon coast, about 180 miles west of Bandon. This area often experiences earthquakes and no tsunami is expected. Seattle’s Lumen Field currently has six seismic sensors monitoring activity ahead of the Seattle Seahawks

Bend’s Tim Knopp named Oregon’s new Chief Prosperity Officer

January 14, 2026 10:41 am KTVZ - News Team

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek has appointed former Oregon State Senator Tim Knopp of Bend as the state’s new Chief Prosperity Officer – a key role aimed at growing Oregon’s economy, creating good-paying jobs, and supporting local businesses. Kotek announced the appointment Tuesday, saying Knopp’s business background and decades of public service make

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield addresses community at Bend town hall

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield joins 11 states in suing HHS, lawsuit claims billions are tied to discriminatory policy against transgender people

January 14, 2026 9:44 am KTVZ - News Team

(Update: Video Added) SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield joins Attorneys General from 11 states in suing the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The lawsuit claims the HHS is unlawfully tying billions in federal funding to a HHS policy discriminatory against transgender people. Read the full release from the

Oregon National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry holds Change of Command ceremony at Hermiston Armory

January 13, 2026 8:59 am KTVZ - News Team

HERMISTON, Ore. (KTVZ) — On Saturday, January 10th, the Oregon Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, held a formal Change of Command ceremony at the Hermiston Army National Guard Armory. Read the full press release from the Oregon Military Department below: The Oregon Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, held a

Oregon officials warn of health coverage scams as open enrollment deadline looms

January 13, 2026 12:29 am KTVZ - News Team

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon officials are warning residents to act fast as the deadline to sign up for health coverage approaches — and to be on alert for scams that often appear this time of year. Open enrollment for health insurance in Oregon ends Wednesday, January 15, 2026, and Insurance Commissioner TK Keen says the state is

Nearly 200 Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers return home after 9 month Egypt deployment

January 12, 2026 8:02 am KTVZ - News Team

(Update: Video Added) MEDFORD, Ore. (KTVZ) — Nearly 200 Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers, members of the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry were formally welcomed home on Sunday, January 11th. The demobilization ceremony took place at South Medford High School and honored the unit’s 9 month deployment to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. They served alongside military forces

Prineville Man Killed in Crash in Clackamas County

January 9, 2026 4:14 pm KTVZ - News Team

A two-vehicle crash occurred on Highway 26 in Clackamas County, Ore., on Jan. 8, 2026, resulting in the death of one driver. The accident involved a westbound Ford Escape and a Ford F-250. The crash happened at 1:00 p.m. near milepost 35. According to preliminary investigations by the Oregon State Police, Jacob Robert Brugman, 29,

Oregon universities eye mergers, partnerships amid low funding and test scores

January 9, 2026 4:09 pm Campbell Porter

OREGON (KTVZ)– Some Oregon universities could be heading toward a future of closer collaboration, or even potential mergers, as the state confronts mounting financial pressure on higher education. The Higher Education Coordinating Commission, which oversees Oregon’s seven public universities, has requested a formal review of options for consolidation and stronger partnerships between campuses. The move

UPDATE: Border Patrol agents shoot 2 people in East Portland during ‘targeted traffic stop,’ DHS says

January 8, 2026 4:11 pm KTVZ News Partners

PORTLAND, Ore. (KGW) — Two people were shot by federal law Customs and Border Protection agents Thursday afternoon in East Portland, the Portland Police Bureau confirmed. Both were taken to the hospital, with their conditions unknown. PPB officers responded to Southeast Main Street near I-205, the location of Adventist Health Portland, for a report of

New hemp bill could streamline federal policy, bring more clarity for consumers

January 7, 2026 5:29 pm Spencer Sacks

(UPDATE: Adding quotes from Senator Merkley and video) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After weeks of confusion regarding the legality of hemp on a federal level, a new bill could bring clarity to consumers, producers, and dispensaries. We’ve gone from “more relaxed” after 20-18, to an impending ban on hemp products in 20-25. During the government

Oregon AG sues drug-makers, pharmacy benefit managers for $900 million, alleges scheme to inflate insulin prices

January 7, 2026 4:19 pm KTVZ

(Update: Video Added) SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed a $900 million lawsuit Wednesday against the nation’s largest insulin manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers. He claimed they “worked together in a coordinated scheme to artificially inflate the price of insulin and other critical diabetes medications — at the direct expense of Oregon patients

Oregon’s jobless rate held steady at 5.2% in November, state says in report delayed by shutdown

January 7, 2026 12:58 pm Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – Oregon’s unemployment rate held steady at 5.2% in November, the Oregon Employment Department said Wednesday, releasing the report after a significant delay due to the federal government shutdown. The agency said the October unemployment rate is not available, since underlying data was not collected due to the federal government shutdown that

Governor Kotek urges lawmakers to repeal challenged gas tax, vehicle fees; Republican lawmakers react

January 7, 2026 11:38 am KTVZ

Days after a citizen initiative qualified for the November ballot, Governor Tina Kotek called on lawmakers Wednesday to repeal the challenged gas tax and vehicle fee hikes, and to get to work on new short- and long-term ways to fill the Oregon Department of Transportation’s funding shortfall.

National Guard Federal Protection Mission

Military officially demobilizing National Guard troops activated in Portland, Los Angeles and Chicago

January 6, 2026 1:42 pm Barney Lerten

(UPDATE: Adding Video) SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — After months of court fights and legal limbo over their call-up by President Trump, hundreds of Oregon National Guard members and others called up in Portland, Los Angeles and Chicago to protect federal facilities are being demobilized, the U.S. Northern Command confirmed Tuesday. “All Title 10 troops in

SNAP recipients in nine more Oregon counties get added time to replace food lost due to recent storm

January 6, 2026 5:29 pm KTVZ

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Households in nine more Oregon counties — Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Jackson, Josephine, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla and Wasco — now have more time to report lost or spoiled food purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to recent storms and power outages. If you live in one of these counties and