AGP Executive Report

Oregon Politics: A new phone survey gives Republican Sen. Christine Drazan a slight edge over Gov. Tina Kotek in Oregon’s governor’s race, with the lead within the margin of error and voters saying they want “change.” Election Pressure: The Trump administration is threatening to prosecute Idaho election officials over noncitizens voting, and Oregon is mentioned in the broader legal fight over voter-roll access. Local Business: Medford’s Buttercloud Bakery is opening a new Buttercloud Coffeehouse in Central Point, aiming for a mid-August launch. Public Health: A major measles outbreak in South Carolina traced to a vaccine-hesitant community has produced nearly 1,000 cases, underscoring how quickly it can spread in tight-knit groups. Environment & Wildlife: A new study finds gray wolves in California are eating cattle heavily, raising concerns about how livestock may be driving wolf recovery. Sports & Culture: Gonzaga’s starting point guard Mario Saint-Supery is leaving for Spain’s Valencia, while Costco is reportedly ending its Deschutes beer partnership, with Kirkland beer expected to vanish by September.

Oregon Antitrust & Media: Oregon AG Dan Rayfield has withdrawn a records demand and a bid to delay the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, clearing the way for the deal to close soon as the state weighs “next steps.” Local Health & Community: Healthy Klamath opened a new downtown Klamath Falls location to boost visibility and access while continuing its community health coordination work. State Policy & Regulation: Oregon regulators are raising concerns around psilocybin access as proposed safety-related fee changes draw pushback from the industry. Business & Consumer Watch: Dairy Queen franchisees have quietly shut down more than 40 stores in under two years, with closures reported across Texas and Alaska. Sports & Culture: The Oregon Country Fair kicked off with its lime green tradition, while Oregon’s ties to national stories ranged from long-term care policy to a major Senate crypto bill standoff.

Oregon Psilocybin Safety: A Johns Hopkins study using Oregon Health Authority data warns the state’s supported adult-use model may be enrolling more people than is safe, with many users seeking general wellness rather than serious medical help. Election Integrity Fight: President Trump fired the remaining Election Assistance Commission members, leaving the bipartisan agency without active commissioners and raising alarms that states could face a resource gap ahead of midterms. Oregon Ethics Scrutiny: The Oregon Government Ethics Commission voted to seek an outside review into alleged ethics violations by executive director Susan Myers. Local Growth & Infrastructure: Stanfield, near Hermiston, is expanding fast with new housing and plans for a phased $23M wastewater treatment plant upgrade plus park and library work. Public Safety Funding: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici delivered $1.031M to Clatsop County for emergency communications upgrades to improve coordination during major disasters. Business & Community: Aviation American Gin is closing its Portland visitor center as Diageo shifts strategy, while Prineville’s R&R Grocery split a $32,000 lottery bonus with employees after selling a $3.2M Megabucks ticket. Sports & Culture: Lake Oswego golfer Drew Woolworth caps a historic high school run with Athlete of the Year honors.

Medicaid Fight: A coalition of 25 states, including Oregon, sued the Trump administration over new Medicaid work requirements that could kick eligible low-income adults off coverage. Public Health: The CDC scaled back a foodborne illness monitoring program before a cyclospora outbreak surged, with cases reported across 17 states. Elections Under Pressure: The Trump administration warned Idaho election officials they could face criminal prosecution if noncitizens vote in 2026, as courts weigh related challenges involving Oregon and California. Oregon Courts/Insurance: Oregon’s underfunded prison COVID settlement fund faces a major liability gap after a big payout for inmate cases, with approval delayed until the 2027 Legislature. Local Oregon: Dundee’s Sander Estate park officially opened after years of planning and federal, state, county, and city partnerships. Housing Data: A new map shows wide variation in empty homes, highlighting potential pressure points for Oregon and other states.

Antitrust & Elections: Oregon is expanding antitrust actions as federal enforcement pulls back, while DOJ pressure ramps up on states over election practices and noncitizen voting. Rural Health Funding: Oregon Health Authority is sending about $97.1 million in federal grants across 136 projects, including major boosts for Jackson and Josephine counties. Public Safety: Scappoose won a $394,804 grant to replace police radios and improve direct communication with regional agencies and 911 dispatch. Forests & Wildfire: The U.S. Forest Service released a draft plan that could triple logging in eastern Oregon’s Blue Mountains over the next decade, drawing sharp pushback from conservation groups. Energy & Tech: Oregon data centers face a sharp electricity rate hike under a new law, as Micron expands to meet AI-driven memory demand. Weather & Environment: Forecasters say strong El Niño is virtually certain, and OSU researchers found wildfire smoke can change how birds behave. Lottery & Local Life: A Prineville store sold a $3.2 million Megabucks ticket, and Enchanted Forest in Turner reopened after a bomb threat search found nothing suspicious.

Oregon Public Safety: Beaverton tightened its sanctuary-city rules, clarifying how police should handle federal immigration agents, including identity checks, reporting state-law violations, and preserving body-camera footage. Healthcare Costs: New analysis says ACA Marketplace premiums are poised for another jump in 2027, with insurers citing higher costs and the end of enhanced subsidies. Consumer Protection: California AG Rob Bonta joined a multistate $45 million settlement with Block over Cash App’s alleged misleading claims about fraud protection and safety. Local Crime: Oregon murder suspect Rodney Rogers was arrested in Southern California and booked pending extradition. Tech & Energy: NSF awarded $20 million to expand a national quantum research push that could reshape data-center power and networking. Politics & Elections: DOJ warned Oregon and Washington election officials they could face criminal charges if they allow noncitizens to vote. Sports/Health: VisCardia announced the first U.S. patient implant in its RECOVER-HF trial for a new heart-failure therapy.

Antitrust & Media: Oregon AG Dan Rayfield asked a judge to pause Paramount’s planned Warner Bros. Discovery deal for 60 days and demand merger-related records, arguing DOJ approval may have been “corrupt,” as a multistate antitrust challenge is being finalized. Election Integrity Pressure: DOJ warned Oregon and Washington election officials they could face criminal prosecution over claims noncitizens were allowed to vote—state officials say there’s “no evidence.” Consumer Protection: Block/Cash App agreed to a $45 million multistate settlement over fraud and misleading safety claims, with Oregon set to receive $3 million. Oregon Energy Costs: The Oregon PUC approved higher electricity rates for data centers under the POWER Act—data center bills rise about 29% while many other customers get small decreases. Public Safety & Fraud: Multistate AGs urged the FCC to tighten rules against robocalls, saying scammers are now buying real phone numbers to evade spoofing crackdowns. Local Governance: Crook County is updating its Goal 5 resources and seeking public input, including rules for siting commercial solar. Environment & Fisheries: Oregon coastal lawmakers pushed BPA to reverse cuts to the SAFE salmon hatchery program, warning it could jeopardize millions of hatchery fish. Community & Health: Eugene police found missing woman Carol Clove Petitti dead near Onyx Street; the medical examiner is investigating. Business & Growth: Oregon Tech won a National Park Service grant to build accessible mobile audio storytelling for Fort Astoria’s War of 1812 history.

Tech & Energy: Oregon regulators approved a POWER Act tariff that raises electricity prices for data centers by about 29% on average, while cutting residential rates about 1.3%—a shift aimed at making data centers pay more of the grid costs. Airport Expansion: Eugene lawmakers and reps are pushing for state and federal funding for a proposed $240M Eugene Airport expansion, including a third concourse that would double capacity and boost jobs and the regional economy. Courts & Big Business: Oregon AG Dan Rayfield says he’ll ask a court to pause Paramount Skydance’s Warner Bros. Discovery merger for 60 days, seeking records tied to a lobbying investigation. Public Safety & Justice: Four men linked to “Skyline 7” were sentenced in federal court for burglaries targeting Asian American homeowners in Oregon and Washington; they face deportation after prison. Local Economy & Growth: Portland’s Montavilla Brew Works marks 11 years with an anniversary party and a worker-support beer collaboration. Community & Culture: A Yurok family-led effort helped bring salmon back to the Klamath River after major dam removals, restoring a lifeline for the tribe.

Oregon Energy Policy: The Oregon Public Utility Commission approved PGE’s 29.7% rate hike for data centers, crypto firms, and other large industrial users under the 2025 POWER Act, while residential customers get a 1.3% decrease. Local Agriculture: Oregon Gov. Kotek asked the USDA for a natural disaster designation for Hood River and Wasco pear growers after a disastrous season, warning family farms could face bankruptcy without low-interest emergency loans. State Budget Watch: Deschutes County cut about $2.5 million from its 2027 budget despite inflation and uncertainty, using hiring freezes, grants, and paused projects to avoid a shortfall. Transportation Funding: Oregon lawmakers say they’ll prioritize bipartisanship in the 2027 transportation funding plan as ODOT faces an ongoing shortfall. Community & Food Access: SMART Reading received $20,000 from OnPoint Community Credit Union to expand volunteer-led reading support and book access for kids in Title I schools. Business & Consumer: A Rogue Valley pear farm tour highlights how growers are coping with drought and heat, including earlier harvests and worker challenges. Economy/Jobs: Oregon’s semiconductor industry is flagged as at risk of becoming “insignificant,” with a report citing reliance on Intel and talent gaps.

Oregon Politics & Courts: Federal lawyers are reportedly leaving the Trump administration for Democratic state attorney general offices, boosting legal challenges to the president’s agenda, with Oregon DOJ named as a destination. State & Local Governance: Lane County and Eugene’s joint fire service is ending after 16 years, with a two-year transition planned while departments keep coordinating. Energy & Economy: 11 Western states, including Oregon, signed onto a pact to speed permitting and expand the regional power grid, citing tens of billions in needed transmission lines. Housing & Cost of Living: A new debate over rent freezes and rent control pits voter-backed affordability against economists’ concerns about reduced supply and long-run impacts. Public Safety & Health: Oregon is among the worst states to move to in a 2026 study, ranking low on safety and affordability. Business & Community: Portland’s Huber’s Cafe was named Oregon’s “most iconic” sandwich shop by Business Insider, and Gresham’s Music Mondays returns with a full summer lineup.

Oregon Politics & Power: Gov. Tina Kotek says Oregon needs to stop being a “cheap date” for data centers, hinting at new safeguards as she weighs power and water impacts and whether existing tax breaks are too generous. Local Safety: Police released new details after four people were injured in a shooting in the Oregon District; a suspect was arrested and investigators say the victims weren’t cooperative. Sports Betting (World Cup): Kalshi extended its $10 referral code “SILIVE” for USA–Belgium Round of 16 action, while Polymarket updated its $50 “CUSE” code for users in CA, WA, and OR. Business & Jobs: A Pizza Hut rival’s Oregon franchisee, Rogue Fare LLC (Mountain Mike’s Pizza), filed for Chapter 11, leaving five Oregon locations in limbo. Community & Environment: Deschutes County will hold a free household hazardous waste and fireworks drop-off event July 12 at the Negus Transfer Station in Redmond.

Minimum Wage Snapshot: A new national comparison shows how far states have pulled ahead of the stuck federal $7.25 minimum, with Washington topping the list at $17.13 and a widening pay gap across the country. Oregon Business & Jobs: Roseburg Forest Products’ shuttered veneer plant in Weed is up for sale, and local leaders are hoping a new owner can restart production. Food Costs & Waste: Bluapple is pitching science-backed produce preservation to help households stretch fresh food longer as grocery prices keep climbing. Tech in Retail: AsReader says its RFID basket-reading tech is expanding across North America, aiming to speed checkout and reduce missed items. Sports & Local Talent: Oregon’s Nikki Hiltz reacts to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling affecting trans athletes, while Eugene’s Prefontaine Classic also featured standout performances by athletes tied to Oregon and beyond. Health Policy: New federal caps on graduate student loan borrowing are forcing students and colleges to scramble. Transit Watch: An Oregon opinion piece asks whether TriMet can survive long enough to operate the IBR light rail component. Letters: Readers weigh in on local water concerns and America’s 250th anniversary.

Local Courts & Immigration: Federal officials are seeking to revoke the naturalization of a longtime Keizer resident and Salem business owner, alleging he used a second identity to get permanent residency and citizenship, with a denaturalization complaint filed in Oregon federal court. Public Safety: Fourth of July violence across the U.S. left at least six dead and dozens injured, including a Coney Island barbecue shooting in Brooklyn and a targeted shooting in Pensacola, Florida. Oregon Health Costs: Oregon Health Authority data shows Marketplace enrollment for 2026 dropped 15% (21,316 fewer people), as higher premiums and reduced federal help push families to skip coverage or choose costlier plans. State Environment & Wildlife: WDFW is expanding monitoring of coastal and Puget Sound white sturgeon, using acoustic tags to track movements and connections to the main Columbia population. Community Spotlight: Woodburn was named a 2026 All-America City, with judges citing unity, diversity, and a teen court program that boosted attendance. Sports & Culture: A Keyser runner is headed to Nike Nationals in Oregon, while “Country Roads” is becoming an unofficial World Cup anthem for U.S. fans. Energy Infrastructure: Western governors, including Oregon’s, back a multi-state task force to update the regional electric grid and ease transmission bottlenecks.

Oregon Economy & Policy: Oregon’s Prosperity Council delivered a wide-ranging “prosperity roadmap” to Gov. Tina Kotek, pushing tax overhauls, emission programs, education investments, and a reshaped Business Oregon to boost the state’s competitiveness. Environmental Cleanup: A 16-acre incinerator site north of Salem is flagged as heavily contaminated, with elevated lead, arsenic, dioxins and other hazardous chemicals; documents say demolition and cleanup could run through the end of 2027. Public Safety: Oregon National Guard troops joined 250th Independence Day ceremonies across the state, including events in Lake Oswego with speakers, color guard displays, and flyovers. Community & Health: Oregon officials reminded workers that Paid Leave Oregon can help caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s or other dementia. Local Life: Hillsboro’s Fourth of July parade drew thousands for America’s 250th, featuring floats, bands, and community leaders. Sports & Tech Buzz: A new report highlights potential EV savings, with Oregon drivers estimated to save a little more than $2,000 a year by charging at home.

Paid Leave Oregon for Alzheimer’s Caregivers: Oregon officials say Paid Leave Oregon can help workers take time off to care for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Ballot Fight Over Animal Rights: Initiative Petition 28 has cleared a key signature milestone and would effectively tighten Oregon’s rules around hunting, fishing, and other animal-related activities if it reaches and wins on the November ballot. Local Safety Update: Dayton’s Oregon District reopened to normal traffic after an early-morning shooting injured four people; officials say injuries were non-life-threatening and the investigation is ongoing. Oregon Sports Costs: The Denver Broncos Foundation expanded its “All in, All Covered” helmet donation effort to help Colorado families afford youth tackle and flag football. Tech & Energy: A new report says Google’s AI buildout drove a record electricity jump in 2025, raising concerns that renewable credits can’t fully offset real-world power and carbon impacts. Humanoid Robots: Oregon-based Agility Robotics plans a Nasdaq debut via a merger, aiming to bring more direct public exposure to humanoid robots.

World Cup Ticketing Fallout: A Texas couple says StubHub pulled their $1,158 World Cup tickets hours before Japan vs. Netherlands, raising fresh questions about resale practices. Oregon Ballot Fight: Opinion and legal arguments are heating up around Oregon’s IP 28, a proposed hunting and fishing ban that critics say could violate the U.S. Constitution and tribal treaty rights. Heat and Safety: A new analysis ranks states by July 4 crash risk, with North Dakota topping the list, while heat advisories and guidance continue to stress staying cool and safe. Grid Strain From Data Centers: Federal emergency orders were used again to force AI data centers onto diesel backup during grid stress, with impacts felt in higher bills and worse air quality. Local Economy: Gov. Tina Kotek says Oregon small businesses will get priority in state contracting. Housing Affordability: A report highlights how Portland’s use of federal low-income housing tax credits has produced many units priced beyond what lower-income renters can afford. Public Service Loan Forgiveness: A judge permanently blocked the Trump administration from restricting PSLF for public servants based on ideology.